Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A highly reliable display device which has high aperture ratio and includes a transistor with stable electrical characteristics is manufactured. The display device includes a driver circuit portion and a display portion over the same substrate. The driver circuit portion includes a driver circuit transistor and a driver circuit wiring. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the driver circuit transistor are formed using a metal. A channel layer of the driver circuit transistor is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The driver circuit wiring is formed using a metal. The display portion includes a pixel transistor and a display portion wiring. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the pixel transistor are formed using a transparent oxide conductor. A semiconductor layer of the pixel transistor is formed using the oxide semiconductor. The display portion wiring is formed using a transparent oxide conductor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices including oxidesemiconductors and manufacturing methods thereof

Note that in this specification, a semiconductor device refers to alldevices that can function by utilizing semiconductor properties, andelectro-optic devices such as display devices, semiconductor circuits,and electronic devices are all semiconductor devices.

BACKGROUND ART

Light-transmitting metal oxides are used in semiconductor devices. Forexample, conductive metal oxides (hereinafter referred to as oxideconductors) such as indium tin oxide (ITO) are used as transparentelectrode materials needed in display devices such as liquid crystaldisplays.

In addition, light-transmitting metal oxides attract attention asmaterials having semiconductor properties. For example, In—Ga—Zn—O-basedoxides and the like are expected to be used as semiconductor materialsneeded in display devices such as liquid crystal displays. Inparticular, they are expected to be used for channel layers of thin filmtransistors (hereinafter also referred to as TFTs).

TFTs which include metal oxides having semiconductor properties(hereinafter referred to as oxide semiconductors) can be formed bylow-temperature processes. Therefore, expectations for oxidesemiconductors as materials which replace or surpass amorphous siliconused in display devices and the like are raised.

The use of oxide conductors and oxide semiconductors havinglight-transmitting properties enables the production oflight-transmitting TFTs (for example, see Reference 1).

Furthermore, TFTs including oxide semiconductors as a channel layer havehigh field-effect mobility. Therefore, driver circuits in displaydevices or the like can be formed using the TFTs (for example, seeReference 2).

REFERENCE

Reference 1: T. Nozawa, “Transparent Circuitry”, Nikkei Electronics, No.959, Aug. 27, 2007, pp. 39-52.

Reference 2: T. Osada et al., “Development of Driver-Integrated Panelusing Amorphous In—Ga—Zn—Oxide TFT”, Proc. SID'09 Digest, 2009, pp.184-187.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to reduce themanufacturing cost of a semiconductor device.

It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to improvethe aperture ratio of a semiconductor device.

It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to make adisplay portion of a semiconductor device display a higher-resolutionimage.

It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to provide asemiconductor device which can operate at high speed.

One embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor deviceincluding a driver circuit portion and a display portion (also referredto as a pixel portion) over the same substrate. The driver circuitportion includes a driver circuit thin film transistor and a drivercircuit wiring. A source electrode (also referred to as a sourceelectrode layer) and a drain electrode (also referred to as a drainelectrode layer) of the driver circuit thin film transistor are formedusing a metal. A channel layer of the driver circuit thin filmtransistor is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The driver circuitwiring is formed using a metal. The display portion includes a pixelthin film transistor and a display portion wiring. A source electrodelayer and a drain electrode layer of the pixel thin film transistor areformed using an oxide conductor. A semiconductor layer of the pixel thinfilm transistor is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The displayportion wiring is formed using an oxide conductor.

An inverted-staggered thin film transistor having a bottom-gatestructure is used as each of the pixel thin film transistor and thedriver circuit thin film transistor. The pixel thin film transistor is abottom-gate thin film transistor having an oxide semiconductor layerwhich overlaps with a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer(such a thin film transistor is also referred to as an inverted-coplanarthin film transistor or a bottom-contact thin film transistor). Incontrast, the driver circuit thin film transistor is a bottom-gate(channel-etched) thin film transistor which has a source electrode layerand a drain electrode layer overlapping with an oxide semiconductorlayer and which is provided with an oxide insulating layer contactingwith a region of the oxide semiconductor layer between the sourceelectrode layer and the drain electrode.

Note that a specific manufacturing process of a TFT, a specificstructure of a different element (e.g., a capacitor) included in asemiconductor device, and the like are not disclosed in Reference 1. Inaddition, it is not disclosed that a driver circuit and alight-transmitting TFT are formed over the same substrate.

In a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention, adriver circuit portion including a driver circuit TFT and a displayportion including a pixel TFT are formed over the same substrate. Thus,the manufacturing cost of the semiconductor device can be reduced.

In a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention, adisplay portion includes a pixel TFT and a display portion wiring. Asource electrode and a drain electrode of the pixel TFT are formed usingan oxide conductor. A semiconductor layer of the pixel TFT is formedusing an oxide semiconductor. The display portion wiring is formed usingan oxide conductor. That is, in the semiconductor device, a region wherethe pixel TFT and the display portion wiring are formed can be used as adisplay region in a pixel portion. Thus, the aperture ratio of thesemiconductor device can be improved.

In a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention, adisplay portion includes a pixel TFT and a display portion wiring. Asource electrode and a drain electrode of the pixel TFT are formed usingan oxide conductor. A semiconductor layer of the pixel TFT is formedusing an oxide semiconductor. The display portion wiring is formed usingan oxide conductor. That is, in the semiconductor device, it is possibleto determine the pixel size without limitation by the size of the pixelTFT. Thus, it is possible to make the display portion of thesemiconductor device display a higher-resolution image.

In a semiconductor device of one embodiment of the present invention, adriver circuit portion includes a driver circuit TFT and a drivercircuit wiring. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the drivercircuit TFT are formed using a metal. A channel layer of the drivercircuit TFT is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The driver circuitwiring is formed using a metal. That is, in the semiconductor device, adriver circuit includes a TFT having high field-effect mobility and awiring having low resistance. Thus, the semiconductor device can operateat high speed.

As an oxide semiconductor used in this specification, a thin film of amaterial expressed by InMO₃(ZnO)_(m) (m>0) is formed, and a thin filmtransistor including the thin film as an oxide semiconductor layer isformed. Note that M denotes one or more metal elements selected from Ga,Fe, Ni, Mn, or Co. As an example, M might be Ga or might be Ga and theabove metal element other than Ga, for example, M might be Ga and Ni orGa and Fe. Further, in the oxide semiconductor, in some cases, atransitional metal element such as Fe or Ni or an oxide of thetransitional metal is contained as an impurity element in addition tothe metal element contained as M. In this specification, among oxidesemiconductor layers whose composition formulae are expressed byInMO₃(ZnO)m (m>0), an oxide semiconductor which includes Ga as M isreferred to as an In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor, and a thin filmof the In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor is referred to as anIn—Ga—Zn—O-based non-single-crystal film.

As a metal oxide used for the oxide semiconductor layer, any of thefollowing metal oxides can be used in addition to the above metal oxide:an In—Sn—Zn—O-based metal oxide; an In—Al—Zn—O-based metal oxide; aSn—Ga—Zn—O-based metal oxide; an Al—Ga—Zn—O-based metal oxide; aSn—Al—Zn—O-based metal oxide; an In—Zn—O-based metal oxide; aSn—Zn—O-based metal oxide; an Al—Zn—O-based metal oxide; an In—O-basedmetal oxide; a Sn—O-based metal oxide; and a Zn—O-based metal oxide.Silicon oxide may be contained in the oxide semiconductor layer formedusing the above metal oxide.

In the process for manufacturing the above-mentioned semiconductordevice, it is preferable first to change the oxide semiconductor layerinto an oxygen-deficient oxide semiconductor layer by the heat treatmentof the oxide semiconductor layer in the atmosphere of an inert gas suchas nitrogen or a rare gas (e.g., argon or helium) or under reducedpressure so as to be a low-resistant oxide semiconductor layer (i.e., ann-type (e.g., n-type) oxide semiconductor layer) and then to make theoxide semiconductor layer be in an oxygen excess state by the formationof an oxide insulating film which is in contact with the oxidesemiconductor layer. Accordingly, the oxide semiconductor layer ischanged into a high-resistant oxide semiconductor layer (i.e., an i-type(intrinsic) oxide semiconductor layer). Thus, it is possible tomanufacture a semiconductor device including a highly reliable thin filmtransistor with favorable electrical characteristics.

The above-mentioned heat treatment is performed at a temperature whichis higher than or equal to 350° C., preferably higher than or equal to400° C., and lower than the strain point of a substrate in theatmosphere of an inert gas such as nitrogen or a rare gas (e.g., argonor helium) or under reduced pressure. In this heat treatment, the oxidesemiconductor layer undergoes dehydration or dehydrogenation, whichresults in the reduction of an impurity including a hydrogen atom, suchas water, which is contained in the oxide semiconductor layer.

The heat treatment for the above-mentioned dehydration ordehydrogenation is performed under a heat treatment condition that twopeaks of water or at least one peak of water at around 300° C. is notdetected even if TDS is performed at up to 450° C. on the dehydrated ordehydrogenated oxide semiconductor layer. Even if TDS is performed at upto 450° C. on a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductorlayer obtained under such dehydration or dehydrogenation condition, atleast the peak of water at around 300° C. is not detected.

Cooling after the heat treatment is carried out so that the oxidesemiconductor layer does not contact with water and hydrogen, which isachieved by performing the cooling in a furnace used for dehydration ordehydrogenation without exposure of the oxide semiconductor layer to theair. When a thin film transistor is formed using an oxide semiconductorlayer obtained by changing an oxide semiconductor layer into alow-resistant oxide semiconductor layer, i.e., an n-type (e.g., n⁻-typeor n⁺-type) oxide semiconductor layer by dehydration and dehydrogenationand then by changing the low-resistant oxide semiconductor layer into ahigh-resistant oxide semiconductor layer so as to be an i-typesemiconductor layer, the threshold voltage of the thin film transistorcan be positive voltage, so that a so-called normally-off switchingelement can be realized. It is preferable for a display device that achannel be formed with positive threshold voltage and as close to 0 V aspossible in a thin film transistor. Note that if the threshold voltageof the thin film transistor is negative, the thin film transistor tendsto be normally on; in other words, current flows between a sourceelectrode and a drain electrode even when gate voltage is 0 V. In anactive matrix display device, the electrical characteristics of a thinfilm transistor included in a circuit are important and influence theperformance of the display device. Among the electrical characteristicsof the thin film transistor, the threshold voltage (V_(th)) isparticularly important. When the threshold voltage is high or negativeeven when field-effect mobility is high, it is difficult to control thecircuit. In the case where a thin film transistor has high thresholdvoltage and a large absolute value of its threshold voltage, the thinfilm transistor cannot perform a switching function as the TFT and mightbe a load when the TFT is driven at low voltage. In the case of ann-channel thin film transistor, it is preferable that a channel beformed and drain current flows after positive voltage is applied as gatevoltage. A transistor in which a channel is not formed unless drivingvoltage is raised and a transistor in which a channel is formed anddrain current flows even when negative voltage is applied are unsuitablefor a thin film transistor used in a circuit.

Cooling after the heat treatment may be carried out after switching thegas used in heating to a different gas. For example, cooling may beperformed after the furnace used for dehydration or dehydrogenation isfilled with a high-purity oxygen gas, a high-purity N₂O gas, orultra-dry air (having a dew point of −40° C. or lower, preferably −60°C. or lower) without exposure of the oxide semiconductor layer to theair.

With the use of an oxide semiconductor film cooled slowly (or cooled) inan atmosphere which does not contain moisture (having a dew point of−40° C. or lower, preferably −60° C. or lower) after an impuritycontaining a hydrogen atom, such as water, which is contained in a filmis reduced by heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation, theelectrical characteristics of a thin film transistor are improved andhigh-performance thin film transistors which can be mass-produced arerealized.

In this specification, heat treatment in the atmosphere of an inert gassuch as nitrogen or a rare gas (e.g., argon or helium) or under reducedpressure is referred to as heat treatment for dehydration ordehydrogenation. In this specification, for convenience, dehydration ordehydrogenation refer not only to elimination of H₂ but also toelimination of H, OH, or the like.

As mentioned above, by the heat treatment for dehydration ordehydrogenation, the oxide semiconductor layer is changed into anoxygen-deficient oxide semiconductor layer so as to be a low-resistantoxide semiconductor layer, i.e., an n-type (e.g., n⁻-type) oxidesemiconductor layer. Therefore, the formation of a drain electrode layerover the low-resistant oxide semiconductor layer allows a regionunderneath the drain electrode layer to be a high-resistant drain region(also referred to as an HRD region) which is an oxygen-deficient region.

The carrier concentration of the high-resistant drain region is higherthan or equal to 1×10¹⁷/cm³ and is at least higher than the carrierconcentration of a channel formation region (lower than 1×10¹⁷/cm³).Note that the carrier concentration in this specification is carrierconcentration obtained by Hall effect measurement at room temperature.

Then, a channel formation region is formed by making at least part ofthe dehydrated or dehydrogenated oxide semiconductor layer be in anoxygen-excess state so as to be a higher-resistant oxide semiconductorlayer, i.e., an i-type oxide semiconductor layer. Note that as thetreatment for making part of the dehydrated or dehydrogenated oxidesemiconductor layer be in an oxygen-excess state, any of the followingmethods is employed; deposition of an oxide insulating film bysputtering over and in contact with the dehydrated or dehydrogenatedoxide semiconductor layer; heat treatment of the oxide insulating filmformed over and in contact with the dehydrated or dehydrogenated oxidesemiconductor layer; heat treatment of the oxide insulating film formedover and in contact with the dehydrated or dehydrogenated oxidesemiconductor layer in an atmosphere containing oxygen; heat treatmentof the oxide insulating film formed over and in contact with thedehydrated or dehydrogenated oxide semiconductor layer in an inert gasatmosphere, which is followed by the cooling treatment in an oxygenatmosphere; and heat treatment of the oxide insulating film formed overand in contact with the dehydrated or dehydrogenated oxide semiconductorlayer in an inert gas atmosphere, which is followed by cooling treatmentin ultra-dry air (having a dew point of −40° C. or lower, preferably−60° C. or lower).

Further, at least part of the dehydrated or dehydrogenated oxidesemiconductor layer (a portion overlapping with a gate electrode (alsoreferred to as a gate electrode layer)) can be selectively made to be inan oxygen-excess state, which allows the part to be a high-resistantoxide semiconductor layer, i.e., an i-type oxide semiconductor layer.Hence, the channel formation region can be formed. For example, thechannel formation region can be formed in such a manner that a sourceelectrode layer and a drain electrode layer formed using metalelectrodes of Ti or the like are formed on and in contact with thedehydrated or dehydrogenated oxide semiconductor layer and then theexposure regions which do not overlap with at least one of the sourceelectrode layer and the drain electrode layer are selectively made to bein an oxygen-excess state. In the case where the exposure regions areselectively made to be in an oxygen-excess state, a first high-resistantdrain region overlapping with the source electrode layer and a secondhigh-resistant drain region overlapping with the drain electrode layerare formed, and the channel formation region is formed between the firsthigh-resistant drain region and the second high-resistant drain region.That is, the channel formation region is formed between the sourceelectrode layer and the drain electrode layer in a self-aligning manner.

Thus, it is possible to manufacture a semiconductor device including ahighly reliable thin film transistor with favorable electricalcharacteristics.

Note that by forming the high-resistant drain regions in the oxidesemiconductor layer overlapping with the drain electrode layer (and thesource electrode layer), reliability of a driver circuit can beimproved. Specifically, by forming the high-resistant drain regions, astructure can be attained in which conductivity can be varied stepwisefrom the drain electrode layer to the channel formation region via thehigh-resistant drain region. Therefore, in the case where operation isperformed with the drain electrode layer connected to a wiring forsupplying a high power supply potential VDD, the high-resistant drainregion serves as a buffer and a high electric field is not appliedlocally even if the high electric field is applied between the gateelectrode layer and the drain electrode layer, so that the withstandvoltage of the transistor can be improved.

In addition, by forming the high-resistant drain regions in the oxidesemiconductor layer overlapping with the drain electrode layer (and thesource electrode layer), the amount of leakage current in the channelformation region when the driver circuit is formed can be reduced.Specifically, by forming the high-resistant drain regions, the leakagecurrent of the transistor, which flows between the drain electrode layerand the source electrode layer, flows sequentially through the drainelectrode layer, the high-resistant drain region on the drain electrodelayer side, the channel formation region, the high-resistant drainregion on the source electrode layer side, and the source electrodelayer. In this case, in the channel formation region, leakage currentflowing from the drain electrode layer side to the channel formationregion can be localized in the vicinity of an interface between thechannel formation region and a gate insulating layer which has highresistance when the transistor is off. Thus, the amount of leakagecurrent in a back channel portion (part of a surface of the channelformation region, which is apart from the gate electrode layer) can bereduced.

Further, the first high-resistant drain region overlapping with thesource electrode layer and the second high-resistant drain regionoverlapping with the drain electrode layer may be formed so that theyoverlap with the gate electrode layer, which allows the intensity of anelectric field in the vicinity of an end portion of the drain electrodelayer to be reduced more effectively.

Therefore, one embodiment of a structure of the present inventiondisclosed in this specification is a semiconductor device which includesa gate electrode layer over an insulating surface, a gate insulatinglayer over the gate electrode layer, an oxide semiconductor layer overthe gate insulating layer, a source electrode layer and a drainelectrode layer over the oxide semiconductor layer, and a protectiveinsulating layer which is in contact with part of the oxidesemiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer, the oxidesemiconductor layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrodelayer. The oxide semiconductor layer includes at least a channelformation region and high-resistant drain regions overlapping with thesource electrode layer or the drain electrode layer.

In the above structure, the carrier concentration of the high-resistantdrain regions is higher than or equal to 1×10¹⁷/cm³ and is at leasthigher than the carrier concentration of the channel formation region(lower than 1×10¹⁷/cm³). The high-resistant drain regions are formed ina self-aligning manner, and the length of the channel formation region(the channel length L) is determined by the distance between thehigh-resistant drain regions.

In another embodiment of a structure of the present invention disclosedin this specification is a semiconductor device, where the semiconductordevice includes a pixel portion including a first thin film transistorand a driver circuit including a second thin film transistor which areformed over the same substrate. The first thin film transistor includesa gate electrode layer over the substrate, a gate insulating layer overthe gate electrode layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrodelayer over the gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layeroverlapping with the source electrode layer and the drain electrodelayer over the gate insulating layer, a protective insulating layerwhich is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, and a pixelelectrode layer over the protective insulating layer. The gate electrodelayer, the gate insulating layer, the oxide semiconductor layer, thesource electrode layer, the drain electrode layer, the protectiveinsulating layer, and the pixel electrode layer of the first thin filmtransistor have light-transmitting properties. A material of a sourceelectrode layer and a drain electrode layer of the second thin filmtransistor is different from a material of the source electrode layerand the drain electrode layer of the first thin film transistor. Thematerial of the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer ofthe second thin film transistor is a conductive material having lowerresistance than the material of the source electrode layer and the drainelectrode layer of the first thin film transistor.

In the above structure, a capacitor portion is further formed over thesame substrate. The capacitor portion includes a capacitor wiring and acapacitor electrode overlapping with the capacitor wiring. The capacitorwiring and the capacitor electrode have light-transmitting properties.Note that since the capacitor wiring overlaps with the capacitorelectrode with an insulating layer serving as a dielectric, for example,the gate insulating layer therebetween, and the gate insulating layerhas a light-transmitting property, the capacitor portion has alight-transmitting property.

In addition, in the above structure, an oxide semiconductor layer of thesecond thin film transistor includes a channel formation region whosethickness is smaller than the thickness of a region overlapping with thesource electrode layer or the drain electrode layer. The second thinfilm transistor includes a conductive layer over the channel formationregion with the protective insulating layer therebetween.

Further, in the above structure, the source electrode layer and thedrain electrode layer of the second thin film transistor are formedusing a film containing an element selected from Al, Cr, Cu, Ta, Ti, Mo,or W as a main component or a stacked film of the above element.

Furthermore, in the above structure, the source electrode layer, thedrain electrode layer, and the pixel electrode layer of the first thinfilm transistor are formed using indium oxide, a mixed oxide of indiumand tin, a mixed oxide of indium and zinc, or zinc oxide. The thicknessof each of the gate electrode layer, the source electrode layer, thedrain electrode layer, the pixel electrode layer, a different electrodelayer, and a different wiring layer which are included in the pixelportion is larger than or equal to 30 nm and smaller than or equal to200 nm. The thickness may be set such that these layers have alight-transmitting property with respect to visible light or aretranslucent.

Another embodiment of a structure of the present invention disclosed inthis specification is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor. In themethod, a first gate electrode layer and a second gate electrode layerare formed over a substrate having an insulating surface; a gateinsulating layer is formed over the first gate electrode layer and thesecond gate electrode layer; a first source electrode layer and a firstdrain electrode layer overlapping with the first gate electrode layerare formed over the gate insulating layer; a first oxide semiconductorlayer which overlaps with the first gate electrode layer, part of thefirst source electrode layer, and part of the drain electrode layer anda second oxide semiconductor layer which overlaps with the second gateelectrode layer are formed over the gate insulating layer; performingdehydration or dehydrogenation on the first oxide semiconductor layerand the second oxide semiconductor layer; a second source electrodelayer and a second drain electrode layer are formed over the secondoxide semiconductor layer without exposure to the air after thedehydration or dehydrogenation in order to prevent impurities such aswater and hydrogen from being mixed into the first oxide semiconductorlayer and the second oxide semiconductor layer; an oxide insulatinglayer which is in contact with part of an upper surface of the secondoxide semiconductor layer, a side surface of the second oxidesemiconductor layer, and an upper surface of the first second oxidesemiconductor layer is formed; and a pixel electrode layer which iselectrically connected to the first drain electrode layer or the firstsource electrode layer and a conductive layer which overlaps with thesecond oxide semiconductor layer are formed over the oxide insulatinglayer.

In the above structure, the second source electrode layer and the seconddrain electrode layer are formed using a film containing an elementselected from Al, Cr, Cu, Ta, Ti, Mo, or W as a main component or astacked film of the above element. The first source electrode layer, thefirst drain electrode layer, and the pixel electrode layer are formedusing indium oxide, a mixed oxide of indium and tin, a mixed oxide ofindium and zinc, or zinc oxide.

In this specification, successive treatment is defined as follows:during a series of steps from a first treatment step in which heattreatment is performed to a second treatment step in which depositionsuch as sputtering is performed, a substrate to be processed is placedin an atmosphere which is controlled to be vacuum or an inert gasatmosphere (a nitrogen atmosphere or a rare gas atmosphere) at all timesin order to prevent the substrate from being exposed to a contaminantatmosphere such as the air. By the successive treatment, treatment suchas deposition can be carried out while water or the like is preventedfrom attaching the substrate which has been cleaned.

Performing the series of steps from the first treatment step to thesecond treatment step in the same chamber is within the scope of thesuccessive treatment in this specification.

In addition, the following is also within the scope of the successivetreatment in this specification: in the case where the series of stepsfrom the first treatment step to the second treatment step are performedin different chambers, the substrate is transferred between the chamberswithout being exposed to the air after the first treatment step and issubjected to the second treatment.

Note that between the first treatment step and the second treatmentstep, a substrate transfer step, an alignment step, a slow cooling step,a step of heating or cooling the substrate to a temperature which isnecessary for the second treatment step, or the like may be provided. Aprocess containing such a step is also within the scope of thesuccessive treatment in this specification.

Note that a step in which liquid is used, such as a cleaning step, wetetching, or resist formation, may be provided between the firsttreatment step and the second treatment step. This case is not withinthe scope of the successive treatment in this specification.

Note that ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” in thisspecification are used for convenience and do not denote the order ofsteps and the stacking order of layers. In addition, the ordinal numbersin this specification do not denote particular names which specify thepresent invention.

Further, as a display device including a driver circuit, there are alight-emitting display device including a light-emitting element and adisplay device including an electrophoretic display element, which isalso referred to as electronic paper, in addition to a liquid crystaldisplay device.

There is no particular limitation to the liquid crystal display device,and a liquid crystal display device including a TN liquid crystal, anIPS liquid crystal, an OCB liquid crystal, an STN liquid crystal, a VAliquid crystal, an ECB liquid crystal, a GH liquid crystal, a polymerdispersed liquid crystal, a discotic liquid crystal, or the like can beused. In particular, a normally black liquid crystal panel such as atransmissive liquid crystal display device utilizing a verticalalignment (VA) mode is preferable. Some examples are given as a verticalalignment mode. For example, an MVA (multi-domain vertical alignment)mode, a PVA (patterned vertical alignment) mode, an ASV mode, or thelike can be employed. Specifically, one pixel is divided into aplurality of subpixels and a projection portion is provided in theposition of a counter substrate corresponding to the center of eachsubpixel, so that a multi-domain pixel is formed. A driving method forrealizing a wide viewing angle, by which one pixel is divided into aplurality of subpixels and a projection portion is provided in theposition of a counter substrate corresponding to the center of eachsubpixel so that a multi-domain pixel is formed, is referred to assubpixel driving. Note that the projection portion may be provided onone or both of the counter substrate and an element substrate. Theprojection portion makes liquid crystal molecules radially and improvesthe controllability of alignment.

Further, an electrode for driving a liquid crystal, that is, a pixelelectrode may have a top view shape like a comb-shape or a zigzag shapeso that a direction in which voltage is applied may be varied.Alternatively, a multi-domain pixel may be formed utilizingphoto-alignment.

Furthermore, since a thin film transistor is easily damaged by staticelectricity or the like, a protection circuit for protecting a thin filmtransistor in a pixel portion is preferably provided over the samesubstrate as a gate wiring or a source wiring. The protection circuit ispreferably formed using a non-linear element including an oxidesemiconductor.

In a light-emitting display device including a light-emitting element, aplurality of thin film transistors are included in a pixel portion. Thepixel portion includes a region where a gate electrode of a thin filmtransistor is connected to a source wiring or a drain wiring of adifferent transistor. In addition, a driver circuit of thelight-emitting display device including a light-emitting elementincludes a region where a gate electrode of a thin film transistor isconnected to a source wiring or a drain wiring of the thin filmtransistor.

In a pixel portion of a display device which is one embodiment of thepresent invention, light-transmitting films are used as materials ofthin film transistors. Therefore, although the pixel size is reduced dueto the increase in the number of scan lines for high-resolution display,high aperture ratio can be realized. In addition, since thelight-transmitting films are used as the materials of the thin filmtransistor, high aperture ratio can be realized even if one pixel isdivided into a plurality of subpixels in order to increase a viewingangle.

Further, a light-transmitting thin film transistor is provided in thepixel portion, and a driver circuit including a thin film transistorwith a different structure is formed over the same substrate as thepixel portion. Thus, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1A to 1F are cross-sectional views illustrating steps of oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A to 2C are cross-sectional views and plan views illustrating oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a pixel of one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views illustrating one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views illustrating one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 7A to 7F are cross-sectional views illustrating steps of oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A to 8C are cross-sectional views and plan views illustrating oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A to 9E are cross-sectional views illustrating steps of oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A1 to 10B illustrate a semiconductor device;

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate a semiconductor device;

FIG. 12 illustrates an equivalent circuit of a pixel in a semiconductordevice;

FIGS. 13A to 13C each illustrate a semiconductor device;

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate block diagrams of a semiconductor device;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are a circuit diagram and a timing chart of a signalline driver circuit;

FIGS. 16A to 16D are circuit diagrams illustrating a structure of ashift register;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are a circuit diagram and a timing chart illustratingoperation of a shift register;

FIG. 18 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 19 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 20 is an external view illustrating an example of an e-book reader;

FIGS. 21A and 21B are external views illustrating examples of atelevision set and a digital photo frame;

FIGS. 22A and 22B are external views illustrating examples of gamemachines;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are external views illustrating examples of a mobilecomputer and a mobile phone;

FIG. 24 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 25 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 26 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 27 illustrates a circuit diagram of a semiconductor device;

FIG. 28 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 29 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 30 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 31 illustrates a circuit diagram of a semiconductor device;

FIG. 32 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 33 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 34 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 35 illustrates a semiconductor device;

FIG. 36 illustrates a semiconductor device; and

FIG. 37 illustrates a semiconductor device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present inventionis not limited to the following description. It will be readilyappreciated by those skilled in the art that modes and details of thepresent invention can be changed in various ways. Therefore, the presentinvention should not be construed as being limited to the followingdescription of the embodiments.

Embodiment 1

A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductordevice are described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1F and FIGS. 2A to2C. FIG. 2A illustrates examples of cross-sectional structures of twothin film transistors with different structures, which are formed overthe same substrate. In FIG. 2A, a thin film transistor 470 has abottom-gate structure called a channel-etched structure, and a thin filmtransistor 460 has a bottom-gate structure called a bottom-contactstructure (also referred to as an inverted-coplanar structure).

FIG. 2B1 is a plan view of the channel-etched thin film transistor 470provided in a driver circuit. FIG. 2A includes a cross-sectional viewtaken along line C1-C2 in FIG. 2B1. FIG. 2C includes a cross-sectionalview taken along line C3-C4 in FIG. 2B1.

The thin film transistor 470 provided in the driver circuit is achannel-etched thin film transistor and includes a gate electrode layer401, a first gate insulating layer 402 a, a second gate insulating layer402 b, an oxide semiconductor layer which includes at least a channelformation region 434, a first high-resistant drain region 431, and asecond high-resistant drain region 432, a source electrode layer 405 a,and a drain electrode layer 405 b over a substrate 400 having aninsulating surface. In addition, an oxide insulating layer 407 whichcovers the thin film transistor 470 and is in contact with the channelformation region 434 is provided.

The first high-resistant drain region 431 is formed in contact with alower surface of the source electrode layer 405 a in a self-aligningmanner. In addition, the second high-resistant drain region 432 isformed in contact with a lower surface of the drain electrode layer 405b in a self-aligning manner. The channel formation region 434 is incontact with the oxide insulating layer 407 and has smaller thicknessthan the first high-resistant drain region 431 and the secondhigh-resistant drain region 432. Furthermore, the channel formationregion 434 is a region (an i-type region) which has higher resistancethan the first high-resistant drain region 431 and the secondhigh-resistant drain region 432.

In order to make wirings have low resistance, it is preferable to use ametal material for the source electrode layer 405 a and the drainelectrode layer 405 b in the thin film transistor 470.

In a driver circuit of a liquid crystal display device, which is formedover the same substrate over which a pixel portion is formed, onlypositive voltage or negative voltage is applied between a sourceelectrode and a drain electrode of a transistor which is included in alogic gate such as an inverter circuit, a NAND circuit, a NOR circuit,or a latch circuit or a transistor which is included in an analogcircuit such as a sense amplifier, a constant voltage generationcircuit, or a VCO. Therefore, the width of the second high-resistantdrain region 432 which needs to have high withstand voltage may bedesigned to be larger than the width of the first high-resistant drainregion 431. Further, the widths of regions where the firsthigh-resistant drain region 431 and the second high-resistant drainregion 432 overlap with the gate electrode layer may be made relativelylarger.

Although the thin film transistor 470 provided in the driver circuit isdescribed as a single-gate thin film transistor, a multi-gate thin filmtransistor having a plurality of channel formation regions can be usedas necessary.

A conductive layer 406 is provided above the channel formation region434 so as to overlap with the channel formation region 434. When theconductive layer 406 is electrically connected to the gate electrodelayer 401 and has the same potential as the gate electrode layer 401,gate voltage can be applied from upper and lower sides of the oxidesemiconductor layer which is provided between the gate electrode layer401 and the conductive layer 406. In addition, when the gate electrodelayer 401 and the conductive layer 406 have different potentials, forexample, when the potential of the conductive layer 406 is a fixedpotential such as GND or 0 V, electrical characteristics of the TFT, forexample, the threshold voltage or the like can be controlled. In otherwords, when the gate electrode layer 401 functions as a first gateelectrode layer and the conductive layer 406 functions as a second gateelectrode layer, the thin film transistor 470 can be used as a thin filmtransistor having four terminals.

A protective insulating layer 408 and a planarization insulating layer409 are stacked between the conductive layer 406 and the oxideinsulating layer 407.

The protective insulating layer 408 is preferably formed in contact withthe first gate insulating layer 402 a provided below the protectiveinsulating layer 408 or in contact with an insulating film serving as abase so as to prevent entry of an impurity containing a hydrogen atom,such as water, a hydrogen ion, or OH. In particular, it is effective toform the first gate insulating layer 402 a or the insulating filmserving as a base, which is in contact with the protective insulatinglayer 408, with the use of a silicon nitride film.

FIG. 2B2 is a plan view of the bottom-contact thin film transistor 460provided in a pixel. FIG. 2A includes a cross-sectional view taken alongline D1-D2 in FIG. 2B2. In addition, FIG. 2C includes a cross-sectionalview taken along line D3-D4 in FIG. 2B2.

The thin film transistor 460 provided in the pixel is a bottom-contactthin film transistor and includes a gate electrode layer 451, the firstgate insulating layer 402 a, the second gate insulating layer 402 b, anoxide semiconductor layer 454 which includes a channel formation region,a source electrode layer 455 a, and a drain electrode layer 455 b overthe substrate 400 having an insulating surface. In addition, the oxideinsulating layer 407 which covers the thin film transistor 460 and is incontact with an upper surface and a side surface of the oxidesemiconductor layer 454 is provided.

Note that AC drive is performed in a liquid crystal display device inorder to prevent deterioration in a liquid crystal. Through the ACdrive, the polarity of a signal potential applied to a pixel electrodelayer is inverted to be positive or negative every predetermined period.In a TFT which is connected to the pixel electrode layer, a pair ofelectrodes alternately functions as a source electrode layer and a drainelectrode layer. In this specification, for convenience, one of a pairof electrodes of a thin film transistor in a pixel is referred to as asource electrode layer and the other of the electrodes is referred to asa drain electrode layer; however, practically, one of the electrodesfunctions as the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer inthe case of AC drive. In addition, in order to reduce the amount ofleakage current, the width of the gate electrode layer in the thin filmtransistor 460 provided in the pixel may be made smaller than the widthof the gate electrode layer in the thin film transistor 470 in thedriver circuit. Alternatively, in order to reduce the amount of leakagecurrent, the gate electrode layer in the thin film transistor 460provided in the pixel may be designed so as not to overlap with thesource electrode layer and the drain electrode layer.

Although the thin film transistor 460 provided in the pixel is describedas a single-gate thin film transistor, a multi-gate thin film transistorhaving a plurality of channel formation regions can be used asnecessary.

Heat treatment for reducing an impurity such as water (heat treatmentfor dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed on the oxidesemiconductor layer 454 at least after an oxide semiconductor film isdeposited. The carrier concentration of the oxide semiconductor layer islowered by, for example, the formation of an oxide insulating film whichis contact with the oxide semiconductor layer after the heat treatmentfor dehydration or dehydrogenation and slow cooling are performed, whichleads to improvement in electrical characteristics of the thin filmtransistor 460 and improvement in reliability.

Note that the oxide semiconductor layer 454 is formed over the sourceelectrode layer 455 a and the drain electrode layer 455 b so as topartly overlap with the source electrode layer 455 a and the drainelectrode layer 455 b. In addition, the oxide semiconductor layer 454overlaps with the gate electrode layer 451 with the first gateinsulating layer 402 a and the second gate insulating layer 402 btherebetween. The channel formation region of the thin film transistor460 provided in the pixel is a region which is surrounded by a sidesurface of the source electrode layer 455 a and a side surface of thedrain electrode layer 455 b, which faces the side surface of the sourceelectrode layer 455 a, in the oxide semiconductor layer 454, that is, aregion which is in contact with the second gate insulating layer 402 band overlaps with the gate electrode layer 451.

In order to realize a display device having high aperture ratio, inwhich a light-transmitting thin film transistor is used as the thin filmtransistor 460, a light-transmitting conductive film is used for thesource electrode layer 455 a and the drain electrode layer 455 b.

In addition, a light-transmitting conductive film is used for the gateelectrode layer 451 of the thin film transistor 460.

In the pixel in which the thin film transistor 460 is provided, aconductive film having a light-transmitting property with respect tovisible light is used for a pixel electrode layer 456, a differentelectrode layer (e.g., a capacitor electrode layer) or a differentwiring layer (e.g., a capacitor wiring layer) so that the display devicehaving high aperture ratio is realized. Needless to say, it ispreferable to use films having light-transmitting properties withrespect to visible light for the gate insulating layers 402 a and 402 band the oxide insulating layer 407.

In this specification, a film having a light-transmitting property withrespect to visible light refers to a film whose transmittance of visiblelight is 75 to 100%. In the case where such a film has conductivity, itis also referred to as a transparent conductive film. In addition, aconductive film having translucence with respect to visible light may beused for a metal oxide used for a gate electrode layer, a sourceelectrode layer, a drain electrode layer, a pixel electrode layer, adifferent electrode layer, or a different wiring layer. Translucencewith respect to visible light refers to a transmittance of 50 to 75%.

Steps of manufacturing the thin film transistor 470 and the thin filmtransistor 460 over the same substrate are described below withreference to FIGS. 1A to 1F and FIGS. 2B1 and 2B2.

First, a light-transmitting conductive film is formed over the substrate400 having an insulating surface. Then, the gate electrode layers 401and 451 are formed in a first photolithography step. In addition, in apixel portion, a capacitor wiring layer is formed using the samelight-transmitting material as the gate electrode layers 401 and 451 inthe first photolithography step. In the case where a capacitor is needednot only in the pixel portion but also in the driver circuit, acapacitor wiring layer is formed in the driver circuit. Note that aresist mask may be formed by an inkjet method. When the resist mask isformed by an inkjet method, a photomask is not used; thus, manufacturingcost can be reduced.

Although there is no particular limitation to a substrate which can beused as the substrate 400 having an insulating surface, it is necessarythat the substrate have at least heat resistance enough to withstandheat treatment to be performed later. As the substrate 400 having aninsulating surface, a glass substrate formed using barium borosilicateglass, aluminoborosilicate glass, or the like can be used.

In the case where the temperature of the heat treatment to be performedlater is high, a substrate whose strain point is higher than or equal to730° C. is preferably used as the substrate 400. For the substrate 400,for example, a glass material such as aluminosilicate glass,aluminoborosilicate glass, or barium borosilicate glass is used. Notethat by containing more barium oxide (BaO) than boric acid, a morepractical heat-resistant glass substrate can be obtained. Therefore, aglass substrate containing more BaO than B₂O₃ is preferably used.

Note that instead of the substrate 400, a substrate formed using aninsulator, such as a ceramic substrate, a quartz substrate, or asapphire substrate, may be used. Alternatively, crystallized glass orthe like can be used.

An insulating film serving as a base film may be provided between thesubstrate 400 and the gate electrode layers 401 and 451. The base filmhas a function of preventing diffusion of an impurity element from thesubstrate 400 and can be formed to have a single-layer structure or alayered structure of one or more of a silicon nitride film, a siliconoxide film, a silicon nitride oxide film, and a silicon oxynitride film.

As the material of the gate electrode layers 401 and 451, a conductivematerial having a light-transmitting property with respect to visiblelight, for example, an In—Sn—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an In—Al—Zn—O-basedmetal oxide, a Sn—Ga—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an Al—Ga—Zn—O-based metaloxide, a Sn—Al—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an In—Zn—O-based metal oxide, aSn—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an Al—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an In—O-basedmetal oxide, a Sn—O-based metal oxide, or a Zn—O-based metal oxide canbe used. The thickness of the gate electrode layers 401 and 451 isselected as appropriate within a range of 50 to 300 nm. As a depositionmethod of the metal oxide used for the gate electrode layers 401 and451, sputtering, vacuum evaporation (e.g., electron beam deposition),arc discharge ion plating, or a spray method is used. In addition, inthe case where sputtering is used, it is preferable that deposition beperformed using a target containing SiO₂ at 2 to 10 wt %, and SiO_(x)(x>0), which inhibits crystallization, be contained in thelight-transmitting conductive film so that crystallization is suppressedwhen the heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation is performedin the later step.

Next, a gate insulating layer is formed over the gate electrode layers401 and 451.

The gate insulating layer can be formed to have a single-layer structureor a layered structure of one or more of a silicon oxide layer, asilicon nitride layer, a silicon oxynitride layer, and a silicon nitrideoxide layer by plasma-enhanced CVD, sputtering, or the like. Forexample, a silicon oxynitride layer may be formed using a deposition gascontaining SiH₄, oxygen, and nitrogen by plasma-enhanced CVD.

In this embodiment, a gate insulating layer in which the first gateinsulating layer 402 a with a thickness of 50 to 200 nm and the secondgate insulating layer 402 b with a thickness of 50 to 300 nm are stackedis used. For the first gate insulating layer 402 a, a 100-nm-thicksilicon nitride film or a 100-nm-thick silicon nitride oxide film isused. Further, for the second gate insulating layer 402 b, a100-nm-thick silicon oxide film is used.

Next, the source electrode layer 455 a and the drain electrode layer 455b are formed in a second photolithography step after alight-transmitting conductive film is formed over the second gateinsulating layer 402 b (see FIG. 1A). As a deposition method of thelight-transmitting conductive film, sputtering, vacuum evaporation(e.g., electron beam deposition), arc discharge ion plating, or a spraymethod is used. As the material of the conductive film, a conductivematerial having a light-transmitting property with respect to visiblelight, for example, an In—Sn—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an In—Al—Zn—O-basedmetal oxide, a Sn—Ga—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an Al—Ga—Zn—O-based metaloxide, a Sn—Al—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an In—Zn—O-based metal oxide, aSn—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an Al—Zn—O-based metal oxide, an In—O-basedmetal oxide, a Sn—O-based metal oxide, or a Zn—O-based metal oxide canbe used. The thickness of the conductive film is selected as appropriatewithin a range of 50 to 300 nm In addition, in the case where sputteringis used, it is preferable that deposition be performed using a targetcontaining SiO₂ at 2 to 10 wt %, and SiO_(x) (x>0), which inhibitscrystallization, be contained in the light-transmitting conductive filmso that crystallization is suppressed when the heat treatment fordehydration or dehydrogenation is performed in the later step.

Note that a resist mask for forming the source electrode layer 455 a andthe drain electrode layer 455 b may be formed by an inkjet method. Whenthe resist mask is formed by an inkjet method, a photomask is not used;thus, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film with a thickness of 2 to 200 nm isformed over the second gate insulating layer 402 b, the source electrodelayer 455 a, and the drain electrode layer 455 b. The thickness of theoxide semiconductor film is preferably smaller than or equal to 50 nm inorder that the oxide semiconductor layer be amorphous even when heattreatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation is performed after theoxide semiconductor film is formed. When the thickness of the oxidesemiconductor film is made small, crystallization can be suppressed whenheat treatment is performed after the oxide semiconductor layer isformed.

Note that before the oxide semiconductor film is formed by sputtering,dust on a surface of the second gate insulating layer 402 b ispreferably removed by reverse sputtering in which an argon gas isintroduced and plasma is generated. The reverse sputtering refers to amethod in which, without application of voltage to a target side, an RFpower source is used for application of voltage to a substrate side inan argon atmosphere and plasma is generated in the vicinity of thesubstrate so that a substrate surface is modified. Note that nitrogen,helium, or the like may be used instead of the argon atmosphere.

As the oxide semiconductor film, an In—Ga—Zn—O-based non-single-crystalfilm, an In—Sn—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor film, an In—Al—Zn—O-basedoxide semiconductor film, a Sn—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor film,an Al—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor film, a Sn—Al—Zn—O-based oxidesemiconductor film, an In—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor film, aSn—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor film, an Al—Zn—O-based oxidesemiconductor film, an In—O-based oxide semiconductor film, a Sn—O-basedoxide semiconductor film, or a Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor film isused. In this embodiment, the oxide semiconductor film is formed bysputtering with the use of an In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductortarget. Sputtering may be carried out in a rare gas (typically argon)atmosphere, an oxygen atmosphere, or an atmosphere including a rare gas(typically argon) and oxygen. In the case where sputtering is used, itis preferable that deposition be performed using a target containingSiO₂ at 2 to 10 wt % to allow SiO_(x) (x>0), which inhibitscrystallization, to be contained in the oxide semiconductor film so thatcrystallization is suppressed when the heat treatment for dehydration ordehydrogenation is performed in the later step.

Next, the oxide semiconductor film is processed into an island-shapedoxide semiconductor layer in a third photolithography step. Note that inorder to obtain an oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the sourceelectrode layer 455 a and the drain electrode layer 455 b, the materialof the source electrode layer 455 a and the drain electrode layer 455 band etching conditions are adjusted as appropriate so that the sourceelectrode layer 455 a and the drain electrode layer 455 b are not etchedwhen the oxide semiconductor layer is etched. A resist mask for formingthe island-shaped oxide semiconductor layer may be formed by an inkjetmethod. When the resist mask is formed by an inkjet method, a photomaskis not used; thus, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Then, the oxide semiconductor layer is subjected to dehydration ordehydrogenation. The temperature of first heat treatment for dehydrationor dehydrogenation is higher than or equal to 350° C. and lower than thestrain point of the substrate, preferably higher than or equal to 400°C. and lower than the strain point of the substrate. Here, after thesubstrate is put in an electric furnace which is a kind of heattreatment apparatus and heat treatment is performed on the oxidesemiconductor layer in a nitrogen atmosphere, water and hydrogen areprevented from being mixed into the oxide semiconductor layer bypreventing the substrate from being exposed to the air; thus, oxidesemiconductor layers 403 and 453 are obtained (see FIG. 1B). In thisembodiment, the same furnace is used from the heating temperature T atwhich the oxide semiconductor layer is subjected to dehydration ordehydrogenation to a temperature low enough to prevent water fromentering again; specifically, slow cooling is performed in a nitrogenatmosphere until the temperature drops by 100° C. or more from theheating temperature T. Note that without limitation to a nitrogenatmosphere, dehydration or dehydrogenation may be performed in a raregas atmosphere (e.g., helium, neon, or argon) or under reduced pressure.

Note that in the first heat treatment, it is preferable that water,hydrogen, and the like be not included in nitrogen or a rare gas such ashelium, neon, or argon. For example, the purity of nitrogen or a raregas such as helium, neon, or argon, which is introduced into the heattreatment apparatus, is preferably 6N (99.9999%) or more, morepreferably 7N (99.99999%) or more (i.e., impurity concentration ispreferably 1 ppm or lower, more preferably 0.1 ppm or lower).

In some cases, the oxide semiconductor layer is crystallized to be amicrocrystalline film or a polycrystalline film depending on theconditions of the first heat treatment or the material of the oxidesemiconductor layer.

The first heat treatment can be performed before processing the oxidesemiconductor film into an island-shaped oxide semiconductor layer. Inthis case, after the first heat treatment, the substrate is taken outfrom the heat treatment apparatus and a photolithography step isperformed.

Before the oxide semiconductor film is formed, heat treatment (at higherthan or equal to 400° C. and lower than the strain point of thesubstrate) may be performed in an inert gas atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen,helium, neon, or argon), an oxygen atmosphere, or under reduced pressureso that impurities such as hydrogen and water, which are included in thegate insulating layer, are removed.

Next, a resist mask 436 is formed in a fourth photolithography stepafter a metal conductive film is formed over the second gate insulatinglayer 402 b, and etching is selectively performed so that a metalelectrode layer 435 is formed (see FIG. 1C). As the material of themetal conductive film, an element selected from Al, Cr, Cu, Ta, Ti, Mo,or W, an alloy containing any of these elements as a component, an alloycontaining these elements in combination, or the like can be used.

The metal conductive film preferably has a three-layer structure inwhich a titanium layer, an aluminum layer, and a titanium layer arestacked in that order or a three-layer structure in which a molybdenumlayer, an aluminum layer, and a molybdenum layer are stacked in thatorder. Needless to say, the metal conductive film may have asingle-layer structure, a two-layer structure, or a layered structure offour or more layers.

Note that in order to selectively remove the metal conductive film whichoverlaps with the oxide semiconductor layer 453, the source electrodelayer 455 a, and the drain electrode layer 455 b in the fourthphotolithography step, the materials of the oxide semiconductor layer453, the source electrode layer 455 a, and the drain electrode layer 455b and etching conditions are adjusted as appropriate so that the oxidesemiconductor layer 453, the source electrode layer 455 a, and the drainelectrode layer 455 b are not etched when the metal conductive film isetched. The resist mask 436 for forming the metal electrode layer 435may be formed by an inkjet method. When the resist mask 436 is formed byan inkjet method, a photomask is not used; thus, manufacturing cost canbe reduced.

Then, the resist mask 436 is removed, a resist mask 437 is formed in afifth photolithography step, and etching is selectively performed sothat the source electrode layer 405 a and the drain electrode layer 405b are formed (see FIG. 1D). Note that in the fifth photolithographystep, only part of the oxide semiconductor layer 403 is etched so thatan oxide semiconductor layer 433 having a groove (a depression portion)is formed. The resist mask 437 for forming the groove (the depressionportion) in the oxide semiconductor layer may be formed by an inkjetmethod. When the resist mask 437 is formed by an inkjet method, aphotomask is not used; thus, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Then, the resist mask 437 is removed, and the oxide insulating layer 407serving as a protective insulating film is formed in contact with anupper surface and a side surface of the oxide semiconductor layer 453and the groove (the depression portion) in the oxide semiconductor layer433.

The oxide insulating layer 407 has a thickness of at least 1 nm orlarger and can be formed by a method by which impurities such as waterand hydrogen are not mixed into the oxide insulating layer 407, such assputtering, as appropriate. In this embodiment, a 300-nm-thick siliconoxide film is deposited as the oxide insulating layer 407 by sputtering.The substrate temperature at the time of deposition is in the range ofroom temperature to 300° C., and is 100° C. in this embodiment. Thesilicon oxide film can be deposited by sputtering in a rare gas(typically argon) atmosphere, an oxygen atmosphere, or an atmosphereincluding a rare gas (typically argon) and oxygen. Further, a siliconoxide target or a silicon target can be used as a target. For example,silicon oxide can be deposited using a silicon target in an atmosphereincluding oxygen and nitrogen by sputtering. The oxide insulating layer407 which is formed in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer whoseresistance is lowered by the dehydration or dehydrogenation is formedusing an inorganic insulating film which does not contain an impuritycontaining a hydrogen atom, such as water, a hydrogen ion, or OH⁻, andblocks entry of such an impurity from the outside, typically a siliconoxide film, a silicon nitride oxide film, an aluminum oxide film, or analuminum oxynitride film.

Next, second heat treatment (preferably at 200 to 400° C., for example,250 to 350° C.) is performed in an inert gas atmosphere or an oxygen gasatmosphere (see FIG. 1E). For example, the second heat treatment isperformed at 250° C. for one hour in a nitrogen atmosphere. With thesecond heat treatment, heat is applied while the groove in the oxidesemiconductor layer 433 and the upper surface and the side surface ofthe oxide semiconductor layer 453 are in contact with the oxideinsulating layer 407.

Through the above steps, heat treatment for dehydration ordehydrogenation is performed on the oxide semiconductor film afterdeposition to reduce the resistance, and then, part of the oxidesemiconductor film is selectively made to be in an oxygen-excess state.Accordingly, the channel formation region 434 overlapping with the gateelectrode layer 401 becomes intrinsic, and the first high-resistantdrain region 431 which overlaps with the source electrode layer 405 aand the second high-resistant drain region 432 which overlaps with thedrain electrode layer 405 b are formed in a self-aligning manner.Further, the entire oxide semiconductor layer 453 becomes intrinsic andserves as the oxide semiconductor layer 454 including a channelformation region.

Note that by forming the second high-resistant drain region 432 (or thefirst high-resistant drain region 431) in the oxide semiconductor layeroverlapping with the drain electrode layer 405 b (and the sourceelectrode layer 405 a), reliability of a driver circuit can be improved.Specifically, by forming the second high-resistant drain region 432, astructure can be employed in which conductivity can be varied stepwisefrom the drain electrode layer to the channel formation region via thesecond high-resistant drain region 432. Therefore, in the case whereoperation is performed with the drain electrode layer 405 b connected toa wiring for supplying a high power supply potential VDD, thehigh-resistant drain region serves as a buffer and a high electric fieldis not applied locally even if the high electric field is appliedbetween the gate electrode layer 401 and the drain electrode layer 405b, so that the withstand voltage of the transistor can be improved.

Note that by forming the second high-resistant drain region 432 (or thefirst high-resistant drain region 431) in the oxide semiconductor layeroverlapping with the drain electrode layer 405 b (and the sourceelectrode layer 405 a), the amount of leakage current in the channelformation region 434 can be reduced.

Then, the protective insulating layer 408 is formed over the oxideinsulating layer 407 (see FIG. 1F). In this embodiment, a siliconnitride film is formed by RF sputtering. Since RF sputtering has highproductivity, it is preferably used as a deposition method of theprotective insulating layer 408. The protective insulating layer 408 isformed using an inorganic insulating film which does not contain animpurity containing a hydrogen atom, such as water, a hydrogen ion, orOH⁻, and blocks entry of such an impurity from the outside, typically asilicon nitride film, an aluminum nitride film, a silicon nitride oxidefilm, or an aluminum oxynitride film. Needless to say, the protectiveinsulating layer 408 is formed using a light-transmitting insulatingfilm.

It is preferable that the protective insulating layer 408 be in contactwith the first gate insulating layer 402 a provided below the protectiveinsulating layer 408 or in contact with the insulating film serving as abase so that entry of an impurity containing a hydrogen atom, such aswater, a hydrogen ion, or OH⁻, from the vicinity of an edge portion ofthe substrate can be prevented. In particular, it is effective to formthe first gate insulating layer 402 a or the insulating film serving asa base, which is in contact with the protective insulating layer 408,with the use of a silicon nitride film. In other words, when a siliconnitride film is provided so as to surround a lower surface, an uppersurface, and a side surface of the oxide semiconductor layer,reliability of the display device is improved.

Next, the planarization insulating layer 409 is formed over theprotective insulating layer 408. The planarization insulating layer 409can be formed using an organic material having heat resistance, such aspolyimide, an acrylic resin, a benzocyclobutene-based resin, polyamide,or an epoxy resin. Other than such an organic material, it is possibleto use a low-dielectric constant material (a low-k material), asiloxane-based resin, PSG (phosphosilicate glass), BPSG(borophosphosilicate glass), or the like. Note that the planarizationinsulating layer 409 may be formed by stacking a plurality of insulatingfilms formed using these materials.

Note that a siloxane-based resin corresponds to a resin including aSi—O—Si bond formed using a siloxane-based material as a startingmaterial. The siloxane-based resin may include an organic group (e.g.,an alkyl group or an aryl group) as a substituent. Further, the organicgroup may include a fluoro group.

There is no particular limitation to the method for forming theplanarization insulating layer 409. The planarization insulating layer409 can be formed, depending on the material, by a method such assputtering, an SOG method, a spin coating method, a dipping method, aspray coating method, or a droplet discharge method (e.g., an inkjetmethod, screen printing, or offset printing), or a tool such as a doctorknife, a roll coater, a curtain coater, or a knife coater.

Then, a resist mask is formed in a sixth photolithography step and acontact hole which reaches the drain electrode layer 455 b is formed byetching of the planarization insulating layer 409, the protectiveinsulating layer 408, and the oxide insulating layer 407. In addition,contact holes which reach the gate electrode layers 401 and 451 areformed with the etching. The resist mask for forming the contact holewhich reaches the drain electrode layer 455 b may be formed by an inkjetmethod. When the resist mask is formed by an inkjet method, a photomaskis not used; thus, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Next, a light-transmitting conductive film is formed after the resistmask is removed. The light-transmitting conductive film is formed usingindium oxide, a mixed oxide of indium and tin (abbreviated as ITO), orthe like by sputtering, vacuum evaporation, or the like. Alternatively,an Al—Zn—O-based non-single-crystal film containing nitrogen (i.e., anAl—Zn—O—N-based non-single-crystal film), a Zn—O-basednon-single-crystal film containing nitrogen (i.e., a Zn—O—N-basednon-single-crystal film), or a Sn—Zn—O-based non-single-crystal filmcontaining nitrogen (i.e., a Sn—Zn—O—N-based non-single-crystal film)may be used as the material of the light-transmitting conductive film.Note that the composition ratio (atomic %) of zinc in theAl—Zn—O—N-based non-single-crystal film is less than or equal to 47atomic % and is higher than that of aluminum in the non-single-crystalfilm; the composition ratio (atomic %) of aluminum in theAl—Zn—O—N-based non-single-crystal film is higher than that of nitrogenin the non-single-crystal film. Such a material is etched with ahydrochloric acid-based solution. However, since a residue is easilyleft on the substrate particularly in etching ITO, a mixed oxide ofindium and zinc may be used in order to improve etching processability.

Note that the unit of the composition ratio in the light-transmittingconductive film is atomic percent (atomic %), and the composition ratiois evaluated by analysis using an electron probe X-ray micro analyzer(EPMA).

Next, a resist mask is formed in a seventh photolithography step, andunnecessary portions are removed by etching so that the pixel electrodelayer 456 and the conductive layer 406 are formed (see FIG. 2A).

Through the above steps, over the same substrate, the thin filmtransistor 470 and the thin film transistor 460 can be separately formedin the driver circuit and the pixel portion with the use of seven masks.Further, a storage capacitor which includes a capacitor wiring layer anda capacitor electrode with the first gate insulating layer 402 a and thesecond gate insulating layer 402 b used as dielectrics can be formedover the same substrate. The thin film transistors 460 and storagecapacitors are arranged in matrix to correspond to individual pixels sothat the pixel portion is formed and the driver circuit including thethin film transistor 470 is provided around the pixel portion. Thus, oneof the substrates for manufacturing an active matrix display device canbe obtained. In this specification, such a substrate is referred to asan active matrix substrate for convenience.

Note that the pixel electrode layer 456 is electrically connected to thecapacitor electrode layer through the contact hole formed in theplanarization insulating layer 409, the protective insulating layer 408,and the oxide insulating layer 407. Note that the capacitor electrodelayer can be formed using the same light-transmitting material in thesame step as the drain electrode layer 455 b.

The conductive layer 406 is provided so as to overlap with the channelformation region 434 in the oxide semiconductor layer, whereby in abias-temperature stress test (hereinafter referred to as a BT test) forexamining the reliability of a thin film transistor, the amount ofchange in the threshold voltage of the thin film transistor 470 beforeand after the BT test can be reduced. Further, a potential of theconductive layer 406 may be the same as or different from that of thegate electrode layer 401. The conductive layer 406 can function also asa second gate electrode layer. Alternatively, the potential of theconductive layer 406 may be GND or 0 V, or the conductive layer 406 maybe in a floating state.

Alternatively, the resist mask for forming the pixel electrode layer 456may be formed with by inkjet method. When the resist mask is formed byan inkjet method, a photomask is not used; thus, manufacturing cost canbe reduced.

Embodiment 2

In this embodiment, an example is described in which an active matrixliquid crystal display device is manufactured using the active matrixsubstrate illustrated in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a cross-sectional structure of anactive matrix substrate. Note that FIG. 4 illustrates part of a top viewof a pixel portion. A cross section taken along dash-dot line A1-A2 inFIG. 4 corresponds to a cross section between A1 and A2 in FIG. 3A. Across section taken along dash-dot line B1-B2 in FIG. 4 corresponds to across section between B1 and B2 in FIG. 3A. In the layout of a pixelillustrated in FIG. 4, the shape of an upper surface of a sourceelectrode layer overlapping with an oxide semiconductor layer is aU-shape or a C-shape, which is different from that in Embodiment 1;however, this embodiment is not particularly limited to this.

The thin film transistor in the driver circuit and the thin filmtransistor in the pixel portion which are formed over the same substrateare illustrated in Embodiment 1; in this embodiment, a storagecapacitor, a gate wiring, and a terminal portion of a source wiring areillustrated in addition to these thin film transistors. The capacitor,the gate wiring, and the terminal portion of the source wiring can beformed in the same manufacturing steps as in Embodiment 1 and can bemanufactured without the increase in the number of photomasks and theincrease in the number of steps. Further, in a portion serving as adisplay region in a pixel portion, all the gate wiring, the sourcewiring, and a capacitor wiring layer are formed using light-transmittingconductive films, which results in high aperture ratio. Further, a metalwiring is used for a source wiring layer in a portion which is not thedisplay region in order to reduce wiring resistance.

In FIG. 3A, a thin film transistor 210 is a channel-etched thin filmtransistor provided in a driver circuit, and a thin film transistor 220which is electrically connected to a pixel electrode layer 227 is abottom-contact thin film transistor provided in a pixel portion.

In this embodiment, the thin film transistor 220 formed over a substrate200 has the same structure as the thin film transistor 460 in Embodiment1.

A capacitor wiring layer 230 which is formed using the samelight-transmitting material in the same step as a gate electrode layerof the thin film transistor 220 overlaps with a capacitor electrode 231with a first gate insulating layer 202 a and a second gate insulatinglayer 202 b serving as dielectrics therebetween; thus, a storagecapacitor is formed. Note that the capacitor electrode 231 is formedusing the same light-transmitting material in the same step as a sourceelectrode layer and a drain electrode layer of the thin film transistor220. Thus, the storage capacitor has a light-transmitting property aswell as the thin film transistor 220, so that the aperture ratio can beimproved.

It is important for the storage capacitor to have a light-transmittingproperty in improving the aperture ratio. In a small liquid crystaldisplay panel of 10 inches or smaller in particular, high aperture ratiocan be realized even when the size of a pixel is made small in order torealize higher resolution of display images by increasing the number ofgate wirings, for example. Further, high aperture ratio can be realizedby using light-transmitting films as materials of the thin filmtransistor 220 and the storage capacitor even when one pixel is dividedinto a plurality of subpixels in order to realize a wide viewing angle.That is, high aperture ratio can be realized even when thin filmtransistors are densely arranged, and the display region can have asufficient area. For example, when one pixel includes two to foursubpixels and storage capacitors, the storage capacitors havelight-transmitting properties as well as the thin film transistors, sothat the aperture ratio can be improved.

Note that the storage capacitor is provided below the pixel electrodelayer 227, and the capacitor electrode 231 is electrically connected tothe pixel electrode layer 227.

In this embodiment, an example is described in which the storagecapacitor is formed using the capacitor electrode 231 and the capacitorwiring layer 230; however, there is no particular limitation to thestructure of the storage capacitor. For example, the storage capacitormay be formed in such a manner that, without provision of a capacitorwiring layer, a pixel electrode layer overlaps with a gate wiring in anadjacent pixel with a planarization insulating layer, a protectiveinsulating layer, a first gate insulating layer, and a second gateinsulating layer therebetween.

FIG. 4 illustrates a contact hole 224 for electrically connecting thecapacitor electrode 231 and the pixel electrode layer 227 to each other.The contact hole 224 can be formed using the same photomask as that usedfor forming a contact hole 225 for electrically connecting the drainelectrode layer of the thin film transistor 220 and the pixel electrodelayer 227 to each other. Thus, the contact hole 224 can be formedwithout the increase in the number of steps.

A plurality of gate wirings, source wirings, and capacitor wiring layersare provided in accordance with pixel density. Further, in the terminalportion, a plurality of first terminal electrodes each having the samepotential as the gate wiring, a plurality of second terminal electrodeseach having the same potential as the source wiring, a plurality ofthird terminal electrodes each having the same potential as thecapacitor wiring layer, and the like are arranged. There is noparticular limitation to the number of each of the terminal electrodes,and the number of the terminals may be determined by a practitioner asappropriate.

In the terminal portion, the first terminal electrode which has the samepotential as the gate wiring can be formed using the samelight-transmitting material as the pixel electrode layer 227. The firstterminal electrode is electrically connected to the gate wiring througha contact hole which reaches the gate wiring. The contact hole whichreaches the gate wiring is formed by selective etching of aplanarization insulating layer 204, a protective insulating layer 203,an oxide insulating layer 216, the second gate insulating layer 202 b,and the first gate insulating layer 202 a with the use of the samephotomask as that used for forming the contact hole for electricallyconnecting the drain electrode layer of the thin film transistor 220 andthe pixel electrode layer 227 to each other.

A gate electrode layer of the thin film transistor 210 provided in thedriver circuit may be electrically connected to a conductive layer 217provided above an oxide semiconductor layer. In that case, a contacthole is formed by selective etching of the planarization insulatinglayer 204, the protective insulating layer 203, the oxide insulatinglayer 216, the second gate insulating layer 202 b, and the first gateinsulating layer 202 a with the use of the same photomask as that usedfor forming the contact hole for electrically connecting the drainelectrode layer of the thin film transistor 220 and the pixel electrodelayer 227 to each other. The conductive layer 217 and the gate electrodelayer of the thin film transistor 210 provided in the driver circuit areelectrically connected to each other through the contact hole.

A second terminal electrode 235 which has the same potential as a sourcewiring 234 in the driver circuit can be formed using the samelight-transmitting material as the pixel electrode layer 227. The secondterminal electrode 235 is electrically connected to the source wiringthrough a contact hole which reaches the source wiring 234. The sourcewiring 234 is a metal wiring, is formed using the same material in thesame step as a source electrode layer of the thin film transistor 210,and has the same potential as the source electrode layer of the thinfilm transistor 210.

The third terminal electrode which has the same potential as thecapacitor wiring layer 230 can be formed using the samelight-transmitting material as the pixel electrode layer 227. Further, acontact hole which reaches the capacitor wiring layer 230 can be formedusing the same photomask in the same step as those for forming thecontact hole 224 for electrically connecting the capacitor electrode 231and the pixel electrode layer 227 to each other.

In the case of manufacturing an active matrix liquid crystal displaydevice, a liquid crystal layer is provided between an active matrixsubstrate and a counter substrate provided with a counter electrode, andthe active matrix substrate and the counter substrate are fixed. Notethat a common electrode which is electrically connected to the counterelectrode provided on the counter substrate is provided over the activematrix substrate, and a fourth terminal electrode which is electricallyconnected to the common electrode is provided in the terminal portion.The fourth terminal electrode is used for setting a potential of thecommon electrode to a fixed potential such as GND or 0 V. The fourthterminal electrode can be formed using the same light-transmittingmaterial as the pixel electrode layer 227.

There is no particular limitation to the structure where the sourceelectrode layer of the thin film transistor 220 and the source electrodelayer of the thin film transistor 210 are electrically connected to eachother. For example, a connection electrode for connecting the sourceelectrode layer of the thin film transistor 220 and the source electrodelayer of the thin film transistor 210 may be formed in the same step asthe pixel electrode layer 227. Further, in the portion which is not thedisplay region, the source electrode layer of the thin film transistor220 and the source electrode layer of the thin film transistor 210 maybe in contact with each other so as to overlap with each other.

Note that FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional structure of a gatewiring layer 232 in the driver circuit. Since this embodimentillustrates an example of a small liquid crystal display panel of 10inches or smaller, the gate wiring layer 232 in the driver circuit isformed using the same light-transmitting material as the gate electrodelayer of the thin film transistor 220.

When the same material is used for the gate electrode layer, the sourceelectrode layer, the drain electrode layer, the pixel electrode layer, adifferent electrode layer, and a different wiring layer, a commonsputtering target and a common manufacturing apparatus can be used, sothat material cost and cost of an etchant (or an etching gas) used inetching can be reduced. Accordingly, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the case where a photosensitive resin material is used for theplanarization insulating layer 204 in the structure of FIG. 3A, the stepof forming a resist mask can be omitted.

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional structure which is slightlydifferent from the structure in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3B is the same as FIG. 3Aexcept that the planarization insulating layer 204 is not provided;therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numeralsand detailed description of the same portions is omitted. In FIG. 3B,the pixel electrode layer 227, the conductive layer 217, and the secondterminal electrode 235 are formed on and in contact with the protectiveinsulating layer 203.

With the structure in FIG. 3B, the step of forming the planarizationinsulating layer 204 can be omitted.

This embodiment can be freely combined with Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, an example is described in which part of a gatewiring is formed using a metal wiring so that wiring resistance isreduced, because there is a possibility that the resistance of alight-transmitting wiring might become a problem when the size of aliquid crystal display panel exceeds 10 inches and reaches 60 inches andeven 120 inches.

Note that in FIG. 5A, the same portions as those in FIG. 3A are denotedby the same reference numerals and detailed description of the sameportions is omitted.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example where part of a gate wiring in a drivercircuit is formed using a metal wiring and is formed in contact with alight-transmitting wiring which is the same as the gate electrode layerof the thin film transistor 210. Note that the number of photomasks islarger than that in Embodiment 1 because the metal wiring is formed.

First, a heat-resistant conductive material film (with a thickness of100 to 500 nm) which can withstand first heat treatment for dehydrationor dehydrogenation is formed over the substrate 200.

In this embodiment, a 370-nm-thick tungsten film and a 50-nm-thicktantalum nitride film are formed. Although a stack of the tantalumnitride film and the tungsten film is used as the conductive film here,there is no particular limitation, and the conductive film may be formedusing an element selected from Ta, W, Ti, Mo, Al, or Cu, an alloycontaining any of these elements as a component, an alloy filmcontaining these elements in combination, or a nitride containing any ofthese elements as a component. The heat-resistant conductive materialfilm is not limited to a single layer containing the above element andmay be a stack of two or more layers.

In a first photolithography step, metal wirings are formed, so that afirst metal wiring layer 236 and a second metal wiring layer 237 areformed. ICP (inductively coupled plasma) etching is preferably used foretching of the tungsten film and the tantalum nitride film. The filmscan be etched to have a desired tapered shape with ICP etching withappropriate adjustment of etching conditions (e.g., the amount ofelectric power applied to a coiled electrode, the amount of electricpower applied to a substrate-side electrode, and the temperature of thesubstrate-side electrode). The first metal wiring layer 236 and thesecond metal wiring layer 237 are tapered; thus, defects in forming alight-transmitting conductive film thereon can be reduced.

Then, a gate wiring layer 238, a gate electrode layer of the thin filmtransistor 210, and a gate electrode layer of the thin film transistor220 are formed in a second photolithography step after thelight-transmitting conductive film is formed. The light-transmittingconductive film is formed using any of the conductive materials havinglight-transmitting properties with respect to visible light inEmbodiment 1.

Note that some materials for the light-transmitting conductive filmcause the formation of an oxide film on a surface of the first metalwiring layer 236 or the second metal wiring layer 237 which contactswith the gate wiring layer 238, which occurs in later heat treatment orthe like and results in the increase in contact resistance. Therefore,the second metal wiring layer 237 is preferably formed using a metalnitride film which prevents oxidation of the first metal wiring layer236.

Next, a gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor layer, and thelike are formed in the same steps as in Embodiment 1. In the followingsteps, as described in Embodiment 1, the active matrix substrate ismanufactured.

Further, in this embodiment, an example is described in which after theformation of the planarization insulating layer 204, the planarizationinsulating layer in a terminal portion is selectively removed using aphotomask. It is preferable that the planarization insulating layer benot placed in the terminal portion so that the terminal portion can beconnected to an FPC in a favorable manner.

In FIG. 5A, the second terminal electrode 235 is formed over theprotective insulating layer 203. FIG. 5A illustrates the gate wiringlayer 238 which overlaps with part of the second metal wiring layer 237;however, the gate wiring layer may cover all the first metal wiringlayer 236 and the second metal wiring layer 237. In other words, thefirst metal wiring layer 236 and the second metal wiring layer 237 canbe referred to as auxiliary wirings for reducing the resistance of thegate wiring.

In the terminal portion, a first terminal electrode which has the samepotential as the gate wiring is formed over the protective insulatinglayer 203 and is electrically connected to the second metal wiring layer237. A wiring led from the terminal portion is also formed using a metalwiring.

Further, in order to reduce the wiring resistance, the metal wirings(i.e., the first metal wiring layer 236 and the second metal wiringlayer 237) can be used as the auxiliary wirings for the gate wiring anda capacitor wiring in a portion which is not located in a displayregion.

FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional structure which is slightlydifferent from the structure in FIG. 5A. FIG. 5B is the same as FIG. 5Aexcept for a material of the gate electrode layer in the thin filmtransistor in the driver circuit; therefore, the same portions aredenoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description of thesame portions is omitted.

FIG. 5B illustrates an example in which the gate electrode layer in thethin film transistor in the driver circuit is formed using a metalwiring. In the driver circuit, the material of the gate electrode layeris not limited to a light-transmitting material.

In FIG. 5B, a thin film transistor 240 provided in the driver circuitincludes a gate electrode layer in which a second metal wiring layer 241is stacked over a first metal wiring layer 242. Note that the firstmetal wiring layer 242 can be formed using the same material in the samestep as the first metal wiring layer 236. Further, the second metalwiring layer 241 can be formed using the same material in the same stepas the second metal wiring layer 237.

In the case where the gate electrode layer of the thin film transistor240 is electrically connected to the conductive layer 217, it ispreferable to use a metal nitride film as the second metal wiring layer241 for preventing oxidation of the first metal wiring layer 242.

In this embodiment, a metal wiring is used for some wirings of thedriver circuit so that the wiring resistance is reduced, and higherdefinition of display images can be realized and high aperture ratio canbe maintained even when the size of a liquid crystal display panelexceeds 10 inches and reaches 60 inches and even 120 inches.

Embodiment 4

In this embodiment, an example of a structure of a storage capacitor,which is different from that in Embodiment 2, is illustrated in FIGS. 6Aand 6B. FIG. 6A is the same as FIG. 3A except for a structure of thestorage capacitor; therefore, the same portions are denoted by the samereference numerals and detailed description of the same portions isomitted. Note that FIG. 6A illustrates a cross-sectional structure ofthe thin film transistor 220 provided in a pixel portion and a storagecapacitor.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example in which the storage capacitor isconstituted by the pixel electrode layer 227 and a capacitor wiringlayer 250 which overlaps with the pixel electrode layer 227, with theoxide insulating layer 216, the protective insulating layer 203, and theplanarization insulating layer 204 used as dielectrics. Since thecapacitor wiring layer 250 is formed using the same light-transmittingmaterial in the same step as the source electrode layer of the thin filmtransistor 220 provided in the pixel portion, the capacitor wiring layer250 is arranged so as not to overlap with a source wiring layer of thethin film transistor 220.

In the storage capacitor illustrated in FIG. 6A, a pair of electrodesand the dielectrics have light-transmitting properties; thus, thestorage capacitor as a whole has a light-transmitting property.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of a structure of the storage capacitor,which is different from that in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B is the same as FIG. 6Aexcept for a structure of the storage capacitor; therefore, the sameportions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detaileddescription of the same portions is omitted.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example in which the storage capacitor isconstituted by the capacitor wiring layer 230 and a stack of an oxidesemiconductor layer 252 which overlaps with the capacitor wiring layer230 and the capacitor electrode 231, with the first gate insulatinglayer 202 a and the second gate insulating layer 202 b used asdielectrics. The oxide semiconductor layer 252 is stacked on and incontact with the capacitor electrode 231 and functions as one ofelectrodes of the storage capacitor. Note that the capacitor electrode231 is formed using the same light-transmitting material in the samestep as the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer of thethin film transistor 220. Further, since the capacitor wiring layer 230is formed using the same light-transmitting material in the same step asthe gate electrode layer of the thin film transistor 220, the capacitorwiring layer 230 is arranged so as not to overlap with a gate wiringlayer of the thin film transistor 220.

The capacitor electrode 231 is electrically connected to the pixelelectrode layer 227.

Also in the storage capacitor illustrated in FIG. 6B, a pair ofelectrodes and the dielectrics have light-transmitting properties; thus,the storage capacitor as a whole has a light-transmitting property.

Each of the storage capacitors illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B haslight-transmitting properties; thus, sufficient capacitance and highaperture ratio can be realized even when the size of a pixel is madesmall in order to realize higher resolution of display images byincreasing the number of gate wirings, for example.

This embodiment can be freely combined with any of the otherembodiments.

Embodiment 5

In this embodiment, an example where first heat treatment is differentfrom that in Embodiment 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7F and FIGS. 8Ato 8C. Since FIGS. 7A to 7F and FIGS. 8A to 8C are the same as FIGS. 1Ato 1F and FIGS. 2A to 2C except for part of steps, the same portions aredenoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description of thesame portions is omitted.

First, as described in Embodiment 1, a light-transmitting conductivefilm is formed over the substrate 400 having an insulating surface.Then, the gate electrode layers 401 and 451 are formed in a firstphotolithography step.

Next, a stack of the first gate insulating layer 402 a and the secondgate insulating layer 402 b is formed over the gate electrode layers 401and 451.

Then, the source electrode layer 455 a and the drain electrode layer 455b are formed in a second photolithography step after alight-transmitting conductive film is formed over the second gateinsulating layer 402 b (see FIG. 7A). Note that FIG. 7A is the same asFIG. 1A.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film with a thickness of 2 to 200 nm isformed over the second gate insulating layer 402 b, the source electrodelayer 455 a, and the drain electrode layer 455 b. Note that the steps upto here are the same as the steps in Embodiment 1.

Next, the oxide semiconductor film is subjected to dehydration ordehydrogenation in an inert gas atmosphere or under reduced pressure.The temperature of the first heat treatment for dehydration ordehydrogenation is higher than or equal to 350° C. and lower than thestrain point of the substrate, preferably higher than or equal to 400°C. and lower than the strain point of the substrate. Here, after thesubstrate is put in an electric furnace which is a kind of heattreatment apparatus and heat treatment is performed on the oxidesemiconductor film in a nitrogen atmosphere, water and hydrogen areprevented from being mixed into the oxide semiconductor film bypreventing the substrate from being exposed to the air. Thus, the oxidesemiconductor film is changed into a low-resistant oxide semiconductorfilm, i.e., an n-type (e.g., an n⁻-type or an n⁺-type) oxidesemiconductor film as an oxygen deficient oxide semiconductor film.After that, a high-purity oxygen gas, a high-purity N₂O gas, orultra-dry air (having a dew point of −40° C. or lower, preferably −60°C. or lower) is introduced into the same furnace and cooling isperformed. It is preferable that water, hydrogen, and the like be notincluded in the oxygen gas or the N₂O gas. For example, the purity ofthe oxygen gas or the N₂O gas, which is introduced into the heattreatment apparatus, is preferably 6N (99.9999%) or more, morepreferably 7N (99.99999%) or more (i.e., the impurity concentration ofthe oxygen gas or the N₂O gas is preferably 1 ppm or lower, morepreferably 0.1 ppm or lower).

Further, after the first heat treatment for dehydration ordehydrogenation, heat treatment may be performed at 200 to 400° C.,preferably 200 to 300° C. in an oxygen gas atmosphere, an N₂O gasatmosphere, or an ultra-dry air (having a dew point of −40° C. or lower,preferably −60° C. or lower) atmosphere.

The entire oxide semiconductor layer is made to be in an oxygen excessstate through the above steps; thus, the oxide semiconductor layer hashigher resistance, that is, the oxide semiconductor layer becomesintrinsic.

Accordingly, the reliability of a thin film transistor which is to beformed later can be improved.

Then, the oxide semiconductor film is processed into island-shaped oxidesemiconductor layers 457 and 458 in a photolithography step (see FIG.7B).

Note that an example in which dehydration or dehydrogenation areperformed after the formation of the oxide semiconductor film isdescribed in this embodiment; however, this embodiment is notparticularly limited to this. The first heat treatment of the oxidesemiconductor layer can be performed on the oxide semiconductor filmwhich has been processed into the island-shaped oxide semiconductorlayers.

Alternatively, after dehydration or dehydrogenation are performed on theoxide semiconductor film in an inert gas atmosphere or under reducedpressure and cooling is performed in an inert gas atmosphere, the oxidesemiconductor film may be processed into the island-shaped oxidesemiconductor layers 457 and 458 in the photolithography step. Then,heat treatment may be performed at 200 to 400° C., preferably 200 to300° C. in an oxygen gas atmosphere, an N₂O gas atmosphere, or anultra-dry air (having a dew point of −40° C. or lower, preferably −60°C. or lower) atmosphere.

Before the oxide semiconductor film is formed, heat treatment (at higherthan or equal to 400° C. and lower than the strain point of thesubstrate) may be performed in an inert gas atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen,helium, neon, or argon), an oxygen atmosphere, an ultra-dry air (havinga dew point of −40° C. or lower, preferably −60° C. or lower)atmosphere, or under reduced pressure so that impurities such ashydrogen and water, which are included in the gate insulating layer, areremoved.

Next, the resist mask 436 is formed in a fourth photolithography stepafter a metal conductive film is formed over the second gate insulatinglayer 402 b, and etching is selectively performed so that the metalelectrode layer 435 is formed (see FIG. 7C).

Then, the resist mask 436 is removed, the resist mask 437 is formed in afifth photolithography step, and etching is selectively performed sothat the source electrode layer 405 a and the drain electrode layer 405b are formed (see FIG. 7D). Note that in the fifth photolithographystep, only part of the oxide semiconductor layer is etched so that anoxide semiconductor layer 459 having a groove (a depression portion) isformed.

Then, the resist mask 437 is removed, and the oxide insulating layer 407serving as a protective insulating film is formed in contact with anupper surface and a side surface of the oxide semiconductor layer 458and the groove (the depression portion) in the oxide semiconductor layer459.

Next, second heat treatment (preferably at 200 to 400° C., for example,250 to 350° C.) is performed in an inert gas atmosphere, an oxygen gasatmosphere, or an ultra-dry air (having a dew point of −40° C. or lower,preferably −60° C. or lower) atmosphere (see FIG. 7E). For example, thesecond heat treatment is performed at 250° C. for one hour in a nitrogenatmosphere.

Then, the protective insulating layer 408 is formed over the oxideinsulating layer 407 (see FIG. 7F).

Next, the planarization insulating layer 409 is formed over theprotective insulating layer 408.

Then, a resist mask is formed in a sixth photolithography step and acontact hole which reaches the drain electrode layer 455 b is formed byetching of the planarization insulating layer 409, the protectiveinsulating layer 408, and the oxide insulating layer 407.

Next, a light-transmitting conductive film is formed after the resistmask is removed.

Next, a resist mask is formed in a seventh photolithography step, andunnecessary portions are etched away so that the pixel electrode layer456 and the conductive layer 406 are formed (see FIG. 8A).

Through the above steps, over the same substrate, a thin film transistor471 and a thin film transistor 461 can be separately formed in a drivercircuit and a pixel portion with the use of seven masks. Further, astorage capacitor which includes a capacitor wiring layer and acapacitor electrode with the first gate insulating layer 402 a and thesecond gate insulating layer 402 b used as dielectrics can be formedover the same substrate. The thin film transistors 461 and storagecapacitors are arranged in matrix to correspond to individual pixels sothat the pixel portion is formed and the driver circuit including thethin film transistor 471 is provided around the pixel portion. Thus, oneof the substrates for manufacturing an active matrix display device canbe obtained.

The conductive layer 406 is provided so as to overlap with a channelformation region in the oxide semiconductor layer 459, whereby in abias-temperature stress test (a BT test) for examining the reliabilityof a thin film transistor, the amount of change in the threshold voltageof the thin film transistor 471 before and after the BT test can bereduced. Further, the potential of the conductive layer 406 may be thesame as or different from that of the gate electrode layer 401. Theconductive layer 406 can function also as a second gate electrode layer.Alternatively, the potential of the conductive layer 406 may be GND or 0V, or the conductive layer 406 may be in a floating state.

FIG. 8B1 is a plan view of the channel-etched thin film transistor 471provided in the driver circuit. FIG. 8A includes a cross-sectional viewtaken along line C1-C2 in FIG. 8B1. In addition, FIG. 8C includes across-sectional view taken along line C3-C4 in FIG. 8B1. FIG. 8B2 is aplan view of the bottom-contact thin film transistor 461 provided in apixel. FIG. 8A includes a cross-sectional view taken along line D1-D2 inFIG. 8B2. In addition, FIG. 8C includes a cross-sectional view takenalong line D3-D4 in FIG. 8B2

This embodiment can be freely combined with any of the otherembodiments.

Embodiment 6

In this embodiment, an example where the number of steps and the numberof photomasks are smaller than those in Embodiment 1 is illustrated inFIGS. 9A to 9E. Since FIGS. 9A to 9E are the same as FIGS. 1A to 1F andFIGS. 2A to 2C except for part of steps, the same portions are denotedby the same reference numerals and detailed description of the sameportions is omitted.

First, as described in Embodiment 1, a light-transmitting conductivefilm is formed over the substrate 400 having an insulating surface.Then, the gate electrode layers 401 and 451 are formed in a firstphotolithography step.

Next, a stack of the first gate insulating layer 402 a and the secondgate insulating layer 402 b is formed over the gate electrode layers 401and 451.

Then, the source electrode layer 455 a and the drain electrode layer 455b are formed in a second photolithography step after alight-transmitting conductive film is formed over the second gateinsulating layer 402 b (see FIG. 9A). Note that FIG. 9A is the same asFIG. 1A.

Next, an oxide semiconductor film with a thickness of 2 to 200 nm isformed over the second gate insulating layer 402 b, the source electrodelayer 455 a, and the drain electrode layer 455 b. In this embodiment,the oxide semiconductor film is formed in an oxygen atmosphere, an argonatmosphere, or an atmosphere containing argon and oxygen under acondition that a target is an oxide semiconductor target containing In,Ga, and Zn (an In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor target(In₂O₃:Ga₂O₃:ZnO=1:1:1)) with a diameter of 8 inches, the distancebetween the substrate and the target is 170 mm, pressure is 0.4 Pa, anda direct current (DC) power source is 0.5 kW. Note that a pulse directcurrent (DC) power source is preferable because dust can be reduced andthe film thickness can be uniform.

Next, the oxide semiconductor film is processed into an island-shapedoxide semiconductor layer in a third photolithography step.

Then, the oxide semiconductor layer is subjected to dehydration ordehydrogenation. The temperature of first heat treatment for dehydrationor dehydrogenation is higher than or equal to 350° C. and lower than thestrain point of the substrate, preferably higher than or equal to 400°C. lower than the strain point of the substrate. Here, after thesubstrate is put in an electric furnace which is a kind of heattreatment apparatus and heat treatment is performed on the oxidesemiconductor layer in a nitrogen atmosphere, water and hydrogen areprevented from being mixed into the oxide semiconductor layer bypreventing the substrate from being exposed to the air; thus, the oxidesemiconductor layers 403 and 453 are obtained (see FIG. 9B). Note thatthe steps up to here are the same as the steps in Embodiment 1.

Next, a resist mask 441 is formed in a fourth photolithography stepafter a metal conductive film is formed over the second gate insulatinglayer 402 b, and etching is selectively performed so that the sourceelectrode layer 405 a and the drain electrode layer 405 b are formed(see FIG. 9C). When an alkaline etchant is used in order to performetching selectively, the structure in FIG. 9C can be obtained. As thematerial of the metal conductive film, an element selected from Al, Cr,Cu, Ta, Ti, Mo, or W, an alloy containing any of these elements as acomponent, an alloy containing these elements in combination, or thelike can be used. In this embodiment, a Ti film with a thickness of 50to 400 nm formed by sputtering is used as the metal conductive film.

When the Ti film is used as the metal conductive film and an ammoniahydrogen peroxide mixture (hydrogen peroxide:ammonia:water=5:2:2) or thelike is used as the alkaline etchant, the metal conductive film isselectively removed, so that the oxide semiconductor layer including anIn—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor can be left.

Then, part of the oxide semiconductor layer is thinned using the resistmask 441 so that the oxide semiconductor layer 433 having a groove (adepression portion) is formed (see FIG. 9D). In this etching, thethickness of the oxide semiconductor layer 453 is made smaller and athinned oxide semiconductor layer 442 is obtained. Therefore, thethickness of a region of the oxide semiconductor layer 453 between thesource electrode layer 405 a and the drain electrode layer 405 b issubstantially the same as the thickness of the oxide semiconductor layer442. Note that in the case where the thin film transistor functions as aswitching element even if a groove (a depression portion) is not formedin the oxide semiconductor layer, this etching is not necessarilyperformed. In the case where the etching is not performed, needless tosay, the thickness of the oxide semiconductor layer 453 is not madesmaller and the thin film transistor 460 that is the same as Embodiment1 is formed.

Then, the resist mask 441 is removed, and the oxide insulating layer 407serving as a protective insulating film is formed in contact with anupper surface and a side surface of the oxide semiconductor layer 442and the groove (the depression portion) in the oxide semiconductor layer433.

Next, second heat treatment (preferably at 200 to 400° C., for example,250 to 350° C.) is performed in an inert gas atmosphere or an oxygen gasatmosphere (see FIG. 9E).

Through the above steps, heat treatment for dehydration ordehydrogenation is performed on the oxide semiconductor film afterdeposition to reduce the resistance, and then, part of the oxidesemiconductor film is selectively made to be in an oxygen-excess state.Accordingly, the channel formation region 434 overlapping with the gateelectrode layer 401 becomes intrinsic, and the first high-resistantdrain region 431 which overlaps with the source electrode layer 405 aand the second high-resistant drain region 432 which overlaps with thedrain electrode layer 405 b are formed in a self-aligning manner.Further, the entire channel formation region 443 overlapping with thegate electrode layer 451 becomes intrinsic.

Through the above steps, the thin film transistor 470 and a thin filmtransistor 440 are formed over the same substrate. In the case where thethickness of the oxide semiconductor layer 453 is the same as that ofthe oxide semiconductor layer 453 in Embodiment 1, the oxidesemiconductor layer 442 of the thin film transistor 440 of thisembodiment can be thinner than that of the thin film transistor 460 inEmbodiment 1. In order to keep the amorphous state, the thickness of theoxide semiconductor layer is preferably 50 nm or less. In particular, inthe channel-etched thin film transistor 470, it is preferable that thethickness of the channel formation region 433 after the etching step ofFIG. 9D be 30 nm or less, which allows the thickness of the channelformation region 443 of the thin film transistor 440 to be 30 nm orless. More specifically, the thickness of the channel formation regions443 and 434 of the formed thin film transistors 440 and 470 in FIG. 9Eis adjusted to 5 to 20 nm.

In addition, the channel width of the formed thin film transistor ispreferably 0.5 to 10 μm.

In the following steps, as in Embodiment 1, after the protectiveinsulating layer 408 and the planarization insulating layer 409 areformed, a contact hole which reaches the drain electrode layer 455 b,the pixel electrode layer 456, and the conductive layer 406 are formed.

Through the above steps, over the same substrate, the thin filmtransistor 470 and the thin film transistor 440 can be separately formedin a driver circuit and a pixel portion with the use of six masks.Without the increase in the number of steps, a variety of circuits canbe formed by the formation of transistors with optimal structures overthe same substrate.

This embodiment can be freely combined with any of the otherembodiments.

Embodiment 7

A thin film transistor is formed, and a semiconductor device having adisplay function (also referred to as a display device) can bemanufactured using the thin film transistor in a pixel portion and alsoin a driver circuit. Further, when part or whole of a driver circuitincluding a thin film transistor is formed over the substrate as a pixelportion, a system-on-panel can be obtained.

The display device includes a display element. As the display element, aliquid crystal element (also referred to as a liquid crystal displayelement) or a light-emitting element (also referred to as alight-emitting display element) can be used. The light-emitting elementincludes, in its category, an element whose luminance is controlled bycurrent or voltage, and specifically includes an inorganicelectroluminescent (EL) element, an organic EL element, and the like.Further, a display medium whose contrast is changed by electric action,such as electronic ink, can be used.

The display device includes a panel in which the display element issealed, and a module in which an IC or the like including a controlleris mounted on the panel. Further, an element substrate, whichcorresponds to one embodiment before the display element is completed ina manufacturing process of the display device, is provided with a meansfor supplying current to the display element in each of a plurality ofpixels. Specifically, the element substrate may be in a state in whichonly a pixel electrode of the display element is formed, a state afterthe formation of a conductive film serving as a pixel electrode andbefore etching of the conductive film so that the pixel electrode isformed, or any other states.

Note that a display device in this specification refers to an imagedisplay device or a light source (including a lighting device). Further,the display device includes the following modules in its category: amodule including a connector such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC), atape automated bonding (TAB) tape, or a tape carrier package (TCP); amodule having a TAB tape or a TCP which is provided with a printedwiring board at the end thereof; and a module having an integratedcircuit (IC) which is directly mounted on a display element by a chip onglass (COG) method.

The appearance and a cross section of a liquid crystal display panel,which is one embodiment of a semiconductor device, is described withreference to FIGS. 10A1, 10A2, and 10B. FIGS. 10A1 and 10A2 are planviews of panels in which thin film transistors 4010 and 4011 and aliquid crystal element 4013 are sealed between a first substrate 4001and a second substrate 4006 with a sealant 4005. FIG. 10B is across-sectional view taken along line M-N in FIGS. 10A1 and 10A2.

The sealant 4005 is provided so as to surround a pixel portion 4002 anda scan line driver circuit 4004 which are provided over the firstsubstrate 4001. The second substrate 4006 is provided over the pixelportion 4002 and the scan line driver circuit 4004. Thus, the pixelportion 4002 and the scan line driver circuit 4004 are sealed togetherwith a liquid crystal layer 4008 by the first substrate 4001, thesealant 4005, and the second substrate 4006. A signal line drivercircuit 4003 which is formed using a single crystal semiconductor filmor a polycrystalline semiconductor film over a substrate separatelyprepared is mounted in a region which is different from the regionsurrounded by the sealant 4005 over the first substrate 4001.

Note that there is no particular limitation to the connection method ofthe driver circuit which is separately formed, and a COG method, a wirebonding method, a TAB method, or the like can be used. FIG. 10A1illustrates an example in which the signal line driver circuit 4003 ismounted by a COG method. FIG. 10A2 illustrates an example in which thesignal line driver circuit 4003 is mounted by a TAB method.

The pixel portion 4002 and the scan line driver circuit 4004 providedover the first substrate 4001 include a plurality of thin filmtransistors. FIG. 10B illustrates the thin film transistor 4010 includedin the pixel portion 4002 and the thin film transistor 4011 included inthe scan line driver circuit 4004. A protective insulating layer 4020and an insulating layer 4021 are provided over the thin film transistors4010 and 4011.

Any of the highly reliable thin film transistors including the oxidesemiconductor layers, which are described in Embodiments 1 to 6, can beused as the thin film transistors 4010 and 4011. Any of the thin filmtransistors 470, 210, and 471 described in Embodiments 1 to 6 can beused as the thin film transistor 4011 for the driver circuit. Any of thethin film transistors 460, 220, and 461 can be used as the thin filmtransistor 4010 for a pixel. In this embodiment, the thin filmtransistors 4010 and 4011 are n-channel thin film transistors.

A conductive layer 4040 is provided over part of the insulating layer4021 so as to overlap with a channel formation region of an oxidesemiconductor layer in the thin film transistor 4011 for the drivercircuit. The conductive layer 4040 is provided so as to overlap with thechannel formation region of the oxide semiconductor layer, whereby theamount of change in the threshold voltage of the thin film transistor4011 before and after BT test can be reduced. Further, a potential ofthe conductive layer 4040 may be the same as or different from that of agate electrode layer of the thin film transistor 4011. The conductivelayer 4040 can function also as a second gate electrode layer.Alternatively, the potential of the conductive layer 4040 may be GND or0 V, or the conductive layer 4040 may be in a floating sate.

A pixel electrode layer 4030 included in the liquid crystal element 4013is electrically connected to the thin film transistor 4010. A counterelectrode layer 4031 of the liquid crystal element 4013 is formed on thesecond substrate 4006. A portion where the pixel electrode layer 4030,the counter electrode layer 4031, and the liquid crystal layer 4008overlap with each other corresponds to the liquid crystal element 4013.Note that the pixel electrode layer 4030 and the counter electrode layer4031 are provided with an insulating layer 4032 and an insulating layer4033 which serve as alignment films, and the liquid crystal layer 4008is sandwiched between the pixel electrode layer 4030 and the counterelectrode layer 4031 with the insulating layers 4032 and 4033therebetween.

Note that a light-transmitting substrate can be used as each of thefirst substrate 4001 and the second substrate 4006, and glass, ceramics,or plastics can be used. As plastics, a fiberglass-reinforced plastic(FRP) plate, a poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) film, a polyester film, or anacrylic resin film can be used.

A columnar spacer 4035 is obtained by selective etching of an insulatingfilm and is provided in order to control the distance (a cell gap)between the pixel electrode layer 4030 and the counter electrode layer4031. Note that a spherical spacer may be used. The counter electrodelayer 4031 is electrically connected to a common potential line formedover the same substrate as the thin film transistor 4010. The counterelectrode layer 4031 and the common potential line can be electricallyconnected to each other through conductive particles provided between apair of substrates with the use of a common connection portion. Notethat the conductive particles are included in the sealant 4005.

Alternatively, a liquid crystal exhibiting a blue phase for which analignment film is not used may be used. A blue phase is one of liquidcrystal phases, which is generated just before a cholesteric phasechanges into an isotropic phase while the temperature of a cholestericliquid crystal is raised. Since the blue phase is generated within arelatively narrow range of temperature, a liquid crystal compositioncontaining a chiral agent at 5 wt % or more is used for the liquidcrystal layer 4008 in order to improve the temperature range. A liquidcrystal composition including a liquid crystal exhibiting a blue phaseand a chiral agent has a short response time of 1 msec or less and isoptically isotropic; thus, alignment treatment is not necessary andviewing angle dependence is small.

Note that this embodiment can also be applied to a transflective liquidcrystal display device in addition to a transmissive liquid crystaldisplay device.

In an example of the liquid crystal display device, a polarizer isprovided on an outer surface of the substrate (on the viewer side), anda coloring layer (a color filter) and an electrode layer used for adisplay element are sequentially provided on an inner surface of thesubstrate; however, the polarizer may be provided on the inner surfaceof the substrate. The layered structure of the polarizer and thecoloring layer is not limited to that in this embodiment and may be setas appropriate depending on the materials of the polarizer and thecoloring layer or conditions of the manufacturing process. Further, alight-blocking film serving as a black matrix may be provided except ina display portion.

In the thin film transistors 4010 and 4011, the protective insulatinglayer 4020 is formed in contact with the oxide semiconductor layerincluding the channel formation region. The protective insulating layerprotective 4020 may be formed using a material and a method which aresimilar to those of the oxide insulating layer 407 described inEmbodiment 1. Further, the insulating layer 4021 functioning as aplanarization insulating film covers the thin film transistors in orderto reduce surface unevenness of the thin film transistors. Here, as theprotective insulating layer 4020, a silicon oxide film is formed bysputtering, as described in Embodiment 1.

A protective insulating layer is formed over the protective insulatinglayer 4020. The protective insulating layer may be formed using amaterial and a method which are similar to those of the protectiveinsulating layer 408 described in Embodiment 1. Here, a silicon nitridefilm is formed by RF sputtering as the protective insulating layer.

The insulating layer 4021 may be formed using a material and a methodwhich are similar to those of the planarization insulating layer 409described in Embodiment 1, and an organic material having heatresistance, such as polyimide, an acrylic resin, abenzocyclobutene-based resin, polyamide, or an epoxy resin, can be used.Other than such an organic material, it is possible to use alow-dielectric constant material (a low-k material), a siloxane-basedresin, PSG (phosphosilicate glass), BPSG (borophosphosilicate glass), orthe like. Note that the insulating layer 4021 may be formed by stackinga plurality of insulating films formed using these materials.

Note that the siloxane-based resin corresponds to a resin including aSi—O—Si bond formed using a siloxane-based material as a startingmaterial. The siloxane-based resin may include an organic group (e.g.,an alkyl group or an aryl group) as a substituent. Further, the organicgroup may include a fluoro group.

There is no particular limitation to the method of forming theinsulating layer 4021. The insulating layer 4021 can be formed,depending on the material, by a method such as sputtering, an SOGmethod, a spin coating method, a dipping method, a spray coating method,a droplet discharge method (e.g., an inkjet method, screen printing, oroffset printing), a roll coating method, a curtain coating method, or aknife coating method. A baking step of the insulating layer 4021 alsoserves as annealing of the oxide semiconductor layer, whereby asemiconductor device can be efficiently manufactured.

Each of the pixel electrode layer 4030 and the counter electrode layer4031 can be formed using a light-transmitting conductive material suchas indium oxide containing tungsten oxide, indium zinc oxide containingtungsten oxide, indium oxide containing titanium oxide, indium tin oxidecontaining titanium oxide, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide, orindium tin oxide to which silicon oxide is added.

Alternatively, a conductive composition including a conductive highmolecule (also referred to as a conductive polymer) can be used for eachof the pixel electrode layer 4030 and the counter electrode layer 4031.The pixel electrode formed using the conductive composition preferablyhas a sheet resistance of lower than or equal to 10000 ohms per squareand a transmittance of higher than or equal to 70% at a wavelength of550 nm The sheet resistance is preferably lower. Further, theresistivity of the conductive high molecule included in the conductivecomposition is preferably lower than or equal to 0.1 Ω·cm.

As the conductive high molecule, a so-called π-electron conjugatedconductive high molecule can be used. Examples are polyaniline and aderivative thereof, polypyrrole and a derivative thereof, polythiopheneand a derivative thereof, a copolymer of two or more kinds of theseconductive high molecules, and the like.

A variety of signals and potentials are supplied from an FPC 4018 to thesignal line driver circuit 4003 which is separately formed, the scanline driver circuit 4004, or the pixel portion 4002.

A connection terminal electrode 4015 is formed using the same conductivefilm as the pixel electrode layer 4030 included in the liquid crystalelement 4013. A terminal electrode 4016 is formed using the sameconductive film as a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layerof the thin film transistors 4011.

The connection terminal electrode 4015 is electrically connected to aterminal of the FPC 4018 through an anisotropic conductive film 4019.

Note that FIGS. 10A1, 10A2, and 10B illustrate an example in which thesignal line driver circuit 4003 is formed separately and mounted on thefirst substrate 4001; however, this embodiment is not limited to thisstructure. Part of the signal line driver circuit or part of the scanline driver circuit may be separately formed and mounted.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a liquid crystal display module whichis formed as a semiconductor device by using a TFT substrate 2600manufactured by the manufacturing method disclosed in thisspecification.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a liquid crystal display module, inwhich the TFT substrate 2600 and a counter substrate 2601 are fixed witha sealant 2602, and a pixel portion 2603 including a TFT and the like, adisplay element 2604 including a liquid crystal layer, and a coloringlayer 2605 are provided between the TFT substrates 2600 and the countersubstrate 2601 to form a display region. The coloring layer 2605 isnecessary to perform color display. In an RGB system, coloring layerscorresponding to colors of red, green, and blue are provided for pixels.Polarizers 2606 and 2607 and a diffusion plate 2613 are provided outsidethe TFT substrate 2600 and the counter substrate 2601. A light sourceincludes a cold cathode fluorescent lamp 2610 and a reflector 2611. Acircuit board 2612 is connected to a wiring circuit portion 2608 of theTFT substrate 2600 by a flexible wiring board 2609 and includes anexternal circuit such as a control circuit or a power source circuit.The polarizer and the liquid crystal layer may be stacked with aretardation plate therebetween.

For the liquid crystal display module, a TN (twisted nematic) mode, anIPS (in-plane-switching) mode, an FFS (fringe field switching) mode, anMVA (multi-domain vertical alignment) mode, a PVA (patterned verticalalignment) mode, an ASM (axially symmetric aligned micro-cell) mode, anOCB (optically compensated birefringence) mode, an FLC (ferroelectricliquid crystal) mode, an AFLC (antiferroelectric liquid crystal) mode,or the like can be used.

Through the above steps, a highly reliable liquid crystal display panelcan be manufactured as a semiconductor device.

This embodiment can be combined with any of the structures described inthe other embodiments as appropriate.

Embodiment 8

In this embodiment, an example of electronic paper is described as oneembodiment of a semiconductor device.

The semiconductor device may be used for electronic paper in whichelectronic ink is driven by an element which is electrically connectedto a switching element. Electronic paper is also referred to as anelectrophoretic display device (an electrophoretic display) and hasadvantages of the same level of readability as plain paper, lower powerconsumption than other display devices, and reduction in thickness andweight.

Electrophoretic displays can have various modes. Electrophoreticdisplays contain a plurality of microcapsules dispersed in a solvent ora solute, each of which contains first particles which are positivelycharged and second particles which are negatively charged. By applyingan electric field to the microcapsules, the particles in themicrocapsules move in opposite directions and only the color of theparticles gathering on one side is displayed. Note that the firstparticles and the second particles contain pigments and do not movewithout an electric field. Further, the first particles and the secondparticles have different colors (which may be colorless).

In this manner, an electrophoretic display utilizes a so-calleddielectrophoretic effect by which a substance having a high dielectricconstant moves to a high-electric field region. Note that theelectrophoretic display does not need a polarizer which is needed in aliquid crystal display device.

A solution in which the above microcapsules are dispersed in a solventis referred to as electronic ink. This electronic ink can be printed ona surface of glass, plastics, cloth, paper, or the like. Further, colordisplay can be realized with a color filter or particles includingpigments.

When a plurality of the above microcapsules are arranged as appropriateover an active matrix substrate so as to be sandwiched between twoelectrodes, an active matrix display device is completed, and displaycan be performed by application of an electric field to themicrocapsules. For example, the active matrix substrate including thethin film transistor in any of Embodiments 1 to 6 can be used.

Note that each of the first particles and the second particles in themicrocapsules may be formed using one of a conductive material, aninsulating material, a semiconductor material, a magnetic material, aliquid crystal material, a ferroelectric material, an electroluminescentmaterial, an electrochromic material, and a magnetophoretic material, ora composite material of any of these materials.

FIG. 18 illustrates active matrix electronic paper as an example of asemiconductor device. A thin film transistor 581 used in thesemiconductor device can be formed in a manner which is similar to thatof the thin film transistor described in Embodiment 1 and is a highlyreliable thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer.Further, any of the thin film transistors described in Embodiments 2 to6 can be used as the thin film transistor 581 in this embodiment.

The electronic paper in FIG. 18 is an example of a display device usinga twisting ball display system. The twisting ball display system refersto a method in which spherical particles each colored in black and whiteare provided between a first electrode layer and a second electrodelayer which are electrode layers used for a display element, and apotential difference is generated between the first electrode layer andthe second electrode layer in order to control the orientation of thespherical particles, so that display is performed.

The thin film transistor 581 formed over a substrate 580 is abottom-gate thin film transistor and is covered with an insulating film583 which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer. A sourceelectrode layer or a drain electrode layer of the thin film transistor581 which is sealed between the substrate 580 and a substrate 596 is incontact with a first electrode layer 587 through an opening formed inthe insulating film 583 and an insulating layer 585, whereby the thinfilm transistor 581 is electrically connected to the first electrodelayer 587. Spherical particles 589 are provided between the firstelectrode layer 587 and a second electrode layer 588 formed on thesubstrate 596. Each of the spherical particles 589 includes a blackregion 590 a and a white region 590 b. A space around the sphericalparticles 589 is filled with a filler 595 such as a resin. The firstelectrode layer 587 corresponds to a pixel electrode, and the secondelectrode layer 588 corresponds to a common electrode. The secondelectrode layer 588 is electrically connected to a common potential lineprovided over the same substrate as the thin film transistor 581. Withthe use of a common connection portion, the second electrode layer 588and the common potential line can be electrically connected to eachother through conductive particles provided between the substrates 580and 596.

It is possible to use an electrophoretic element instead of the elementusing the twisting ball. A microcapsule having a diameter ofapproximately 10 to 200 μm, in which transparent liquid, positivelycharged white microparticles, and negatively charged blackmicroparticles are encapsulated, is used. In the microcapsule providedbetween a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, when anelectric field is applied by the first electrode layer and the secondelectrode layer, the white microparticles and the black microparticlesmove in opposite directions, so that white or black can be displayed. Adisplay element utilizing this principle is an electrophoretic displayelement, and a device including an electrophoretic display element iscalled an electronic paper in general. The electrophoretic displayelement has higher reflectance than a liquid crystal display element;thus, an auxiliary light is unnecessary, power consumption is low, and adisplay portion can be recognized even in a dim environment. Inaddition, even when power is not supplied to the display portion, animage which has been displayed once can be held. Thus, a displayed imagecan be held even if a semiconductor device having a display function(which may be referred to simply as a display device or a semiconductordevice including a display device) is disconnected from a power supply.

Through the above steps, highly reliable electronic paper can bemanufactured as a semiconductor device.

This embodiment can be combined with any of the structures described inthe other embodiments as appropriate.

Embodiment 9

A structure of a light-emitting display device is described as asemiconductor device. Here, a light-emitting element utilizingelectroluminescence is described as a display element included in adisplay device. Light-emitting elements utilizing electroluminescenceare classified according to whether a light-emitting material is anorganic compound or an inorganic compound. In general, the former isreferred to as an organic EL element, and the latter is referred to asan inorganic EL element.

In an organic EL element, by application of voltage to a light-emittingelement, electrons and holes are injected from a pair of electrodes intoa layer containing a light-emitting organic compound, and current flows.These carriers (electrons and holes) are recombined, so that thelight-emitting organic compound is excited. The light-emitting organiccompound emits light in returning to a ground state from the excitedstate. Due to such a mechanism, such a light-emitting element isreferred to as a current-excitation light-emitting element.

Inorganic EL elements are classified according to their elementstructures into dispersion-type inorganic EL elements and thin-filminorganic EL elements. A dispersion-type inorganic EL element has alight-emitting layer where particles of a light-emitting material aredispersed in a binder, and its light emission mechanism isdonor-acceptor recombination type light emission which utilizes a donorlevel and an acceptor level. A thin-film inorganic EL element has astructure where a light-emitting layer is interposed between dielectriclayers, which are further interposed between electrodes, and its lightemission mechanism is localized type light emission which utilizesinner-shell electron transition of metal ions. Note that here, anorganic EL element is used as a light-emitting element.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a pixel structure to which digitaltime ratio grayscale driving can be applied, as an example of asemiconductor device.

A structure and operation of a pixel to which digital time ratiograyscale driving can be applied are described. Here, one pixel includestwo n-channel transistors each having an oxide semiconductor layer as achannel formation region.

A pixel 6400 includes a switching transistor 6401, a transistor 6402 fordriving a light-emitting element (hereinafter referred to as the drivingtransistor 6402), a light-emitting element 6404, and a capacitor 6403. Agate of the switching transistor 6401 is connected to a scan line 6406.A first electrode (one of a source electrode and a drain electrode) ofthe switching transistor 6401 is connected to a signal line 6405. Asecond electrode (the other of the source electrode and the drainelectrode) of the switching transistor 6401 is connected to a gate ofthe driving transistor 6402. The gate of the driving transistor 6402 isconnected to a power supply line 6407 through the capacitor 6403. Afirst electrode of the driving transistor 6402 is connected to the powersupply line 6407. A second electrode of the driving transistor 6402 isconnected to a first electrode (a pixel electrode) of the light-emittingelement 6404. A second electrode of the light-emitting element 6404corresponds to a common electrode 6408. The common electrode 6408 iselectrically connected to a common potential line formed over the samesubstrate.

Note that the second electrode (the common electrode 6408) of thelight-emitting element 6404 is set to a low power supply potential. Notethat the low power supply potential is a potential satisfying arelationship, the low power supply potential<a high power supplypotential, with reference to the high power supply potential which isset to the power supply line 6407. As the low power supply potential,GND, 0 V, or the like may be employed, for example. A potentialdifference between the high power supply potential and the low powersupply potential is applied to the light-emitting element 6404 andcurrent flows to the light-emitting element 6404, so that thelight-emitting element 6404 emits light. Here, in order to make thelight-emitting element 6404 emit light, each potential is set so thatthe potential difference between the high power supply potential and thelow power supply potential is higher than or equal to the forwardthreshold voltage of the light-emitting element 6404.

Note gate capacitance of the driving transistor 6402 may be used as asubstitute for the capacitor 6403, so that the capacitor 6403 can beeliminated. The gate capacitance of the driving transistor 6402 may beformed with a channel region and the gate electrode.

Here, in the case of a voltage-input voltage driving method, a videosignal is input to the gate of the driving transistor 6402 so that thedriving transistor 6402 is sufficiently turned on or turned off. Thatis, the driving transistor 6402 operates in a linear region. Since thedriving transistor 6402 operates in the linear region, voltage which ishigher than the voltage of the power supply line 6407 is applied to thegate of the driving transistor 6402. Note that voltage which is higherthan or equal to (voltage of the power supply line+V_(th) of the drivingtransistor 6402) is applied to the signal line 6405.

In the case of employing an analog grayscale method instead of thedigital time ratio grayscale method, the same pixel structure as in FIG.12 can be used by changing signal input.

In the case of performing analog grayscale driving, voltage which ishigher than or equal to voltage which is the sum of the forward voltageof the light-emitting element 6404 and V_(th) of the driving transistor6402 is applied to the gate of the driving transistor 6402. The forwardvoltage of the light-emitting element 6404 refers to voltage at whichdesired luminance is obtained and is larger than at least forwardthreshold voltage. Note that a video signal by which the drivingtransistor 6402 operates in a saturation region is input, so thatcurrent can flow to the light-emitting element 6404. In order to operatethe driving transistor 6402 in the saturation region, a potential of thepower supply line 6407 is set higher than a gate potential of thedriving transistor 6402. When an analog video signal is used as a videosignal, current corresponding to the video signal can flow to thelight-emitting element 6404, and the analog grayscale driving can beperformed.

Note that the pixel structure is not limited to the pixel structureillustrated in FIG. 12. For example, the pixel illustrated in FIG. 12may further include a switch, a resistor, a capacitor, a transistor, alogic circuit, or the like.

Next, structures of a light-emitting element are described withreference to FIGS. 13A to 13C. Here, cross-sectional structures ofpixels are described using n-channel TFTs for driving light-emittingelements as an example. TFTs 7001, 7011, and 7021 serving as TFTs fordriving light-emitting elements used in semiconductor devices in FIGS.13A to 13C can be formed in a manner which is similar to that of thethin film transistor provided in the pixel described in Embodiment 1 andare highly reliable thin film transistors each including an oxidesemiconductor layer. Alternatively, any of the thin film transistorsprovided in the pixels described in Embodiments 2 to 6 can be used asthe TFTs 7001, 7011, and 7021.

In order to extract light emitted from the light-emitting element, atleast one of an anode and a cathode may be transparent. A thin filmtransistor and a light-emitting element are formed over a substrate. Thelight-emitting element can have a top emission structure in which lightis extracted through a surface which is opposite to the substrate; abottom emission structure in which light is extracted through a surfaceon the substrate side; or a dual emission structure in which light isextracted through a surface which is opposite to the substrate and asurface on the substrate side. The pixel structure can be applied to alight-emitting element having any of these emission structures.

A light-emitting element having a top emission structure is describedwith reference to FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view of a pixel when the driving TFT 7001provided in the pixel is an n-channel TFT and light is emitted from alight-emitting element 7002 to an anode 7005 side. In FIG. 13A, acathode 7003 of the light-emitting element 7002 and the driving TFT 7001provided in the pixel are electrically connected to each other, and alight-emitting layer 7004 and the anode 7005 are stacked in that orderover the cathode 7003. The cathode 7003 can be formed using a variety ofconductive materials as long as they have low work functions and reflectlight. For example, Ca, Al, MgAg, AlLi, or the like is preferably used.The light-emitting layer 7004 may be formed using either a single layeror a plurality of layers stacked. In the case where the light-emittinglayer 7004 is formed using a plurality of layers, the light-emittinglayer 7004 is formed by stacking an electron injection layer, anelectron transport layer, a light-emitting layer, a hole transportlayer, and a hole injection layer in that order over the cathode 7003.Note that it is not necessary to provide all these layers. The anode7005 is formed using a light-transmitting conductive material such as afilm of indium oxide containing tungsten oxide, indium zinc oxidecontaining tungsten oxide, indium oxide containing titanium oxide,indium tin oxide containing titanium oxide, indium tin oxide (ITO),indium zinc oxide, or indium tin oxide to which silicon oxide is added.

A partition 7009 is provided between the cathode 7003 and a cathode 7008in an adjacent pixel so as to cover end portions of the cathodes 7003and 7008. The partition 7009 is formed using an organic resin film ofpolyimide, an acrylic resin, polyamide, an epoxy resin, or the like; aninorganic insulating film; or a polysiloxane. It is particularlypreferable that the partition 7009 be formed using a photosensitiveresin material so that a sidewall of the partition 7009 is formed as aninclined surface with continuous curvature. When a photosensitive resinmaterial is used for the partition 7009, a step of forming a resist maskcan be omitted.

The light-emitting element 7002 corresponds to a region where thelight-emitting layer 7004 is interposed between the cathode 7003 and theanode 7005. In the case of the pixel illustrated in FIG. 13A, light isemitted from the light-emitting element 7002 to the anode 7005 side, asindicated by arrows.

Next, a light-emitting element having a bottom emission structure isdescribed with reference to FIG. 13B. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional viewof a pixel when the TFT 7011 for driving a light-emitting element (alsoreferred to as the driving TFT 7011) is an n-channel TFT and light isemitted from a light-emitting element 7012 to a cathode 7013 side. InFIG. 13B, the cathode 7013 of the light-emitting element 7012 is formedover a light-transmitting conductive film 7017 which is electricallyconnected to the driving TFT 7011, and a light-emitting layer 7014 andan anode 7015 are stacked in that order over the cathode 7013. Note thata light-blocking film 7016 for reflecting or blocking light may beformed so as to cover the anode 7015 in the case where the anode 7015has a light-transmitting property. As in FIG. 13A, the cathode 7013 canbe formed using a variety of conductive materials as long as they havelow work functions. Note that the cathode 7013 is formed to a thicknessthat can transmit light (preferably, approximately 5 to 30 nm). Forexample, a 20-nm-thick aluminum film can be used as the cathode 7013. Asin FIG. 13A, the light-emitting layer 7014 may be formed using either asingle layer or a plurality of layers stacked. The anode 7015 does notneed to transmit light, but can be formed using a light-transmittingconductive material, as in FIG. 13A. For the light-blocking film 7016,metal or the like which reflects light can be used, for example;however, the light-blocking film 7016 is not limited to a metal film.For example, a resin to which a black pigment is added or the like canbe used.

The light-emitting element 7012 corresponds to a region where thelight-emitting layer 7014 is interposed between the cathode 7013 and theanode 7015. In the case of the pixel illustrated in FIG. 13B, light isemitted from the light-emitting element 7012 to the cathode 7013 side,as indicated by arrows.

Further, a partition 7019 is provided between the conductive film 7017and a conductive film 7018 in an adjacent pixel so as to cover endportions of the conductive films 7017 and 7018. The partition 7019 isformed using an organic resin film of polyimide, an acrylic resin,polyamide, an epoxy resin, or the like; an inorganic insulating film; ora polysiloxane. It is particularly preferable that the partition 7019 beformed using a photosensitive resin material so that a sidewall of thepartition 7019 is formed as an inclined surface with continuouscurvature. When a photosensitive resin material is used for thepartition 7019, a step of forming a resist mask can be omitted.

Next, a light-emitting element having a dual emission structure isdescribed with reference to FIG. 13C. In FIG. 13C, a cathode 7023 of alight-emitting element 7022 is formed over a light-transmittingconductive film 7027 which is electrically connected to the TFT 7021 fordriving a light-emitting element, and a light-emitting layer 7024 and ananode 7025 are stacked in that order over the cathode 7023. As in FIG.13A, the cathode 7023 can be formed using a variety of conductivematerials as long as they have low work functions. Note that the cathode7023 is formed to a thickness that can transmit light. For example,20-nm-thick Al can be used for the cathode 7023. As in FIG. 13A, thelight-emitting layer 7024 may be formed using either a single layer or aplurality of layers stacked. The anode 7025 can be formed using alight-transmitting conductive material, as in FIG. 13A.

Further, a partition 7029 is provided between the conductive film 7027and a conductive film 7028 in an adjacent pixel so as to cover endportions of the conductive films 7027 and 7028. The partition 7029 isformed using an organic resin film of polyimide, an acrylic resin,polyamide, an epoxy resin, or the like; an inorganic insulating film; ora polysiloxane. It is particularly preferable that the partition 7029 beformed using a photosensitive resin material so that a sidewall of thepartition 7029 is formed as an inclined surface with continuouscurvature. When a photosensitive resin material is used for thepartition 7029, a step of forming a resist mask can be omitted.

The light-emitting element 7022 corresponds to a portion where thecathode 7023, the light-emitting layer 7024, and the anode 7025 overlapwith one another. In the case of the pixel illustrated in FIG. 13C,light is emitted from the light-emitting element 7022 to both the anode7025 side and the cathode 7023 side, as indicated by arrows.

Note that although the organic EL elements are described here as thelight-emitting elements, an inorganic EL element can be provided as alight-emitting element.

Note that an example is described in which a thin film transistor (a TFTfor driving a light-emitting element) which controls driving of thelight-emitting element is electrically connected to the light-emittingelement; however, a structure may be employed in which a TFT forcontrolling current is connected between the driving TFT and thelight-emitting element.

Note that the structure of a semiconductor device is not limited to thestructures illustrated in FIGS. 13A to 13C and can be modified invarious ways on the basis of the spirit of techniques disclosed in thisspecification.

Next, the appearance and a cross section of a light-emitting displaypanel (also referred to as a light-emitting panel), which is oneembodiment of a semiconductor device, are described with reference toFIGS. 11A and 11B. FIG. 11A is a plan view of a panel in which a thinfilm transistor and a light-emitting element which are formed over afirst substrate are sealed between the first substrate and a secondsubstrate with a sealant. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view taken alongline H-I in FIG. 11A.

A sealant 4505 is provided so as to surround a pixel portion 4502,signal line driver circuits 4503 a and 4503 b, and scan line drivercircuits 4504 a and 4504 b which are provided over a first substrate4501. In addition, a second substrate 4506 is provided over the pixelportion 4502, the signal line driver circuits 4503 a and 4503 b, and thescan line driver circuits 4504 a and 4504 b. Thus, the pixel portion4502, the signal line driver circuits 4503 a and 4503 b, and the scanline driver circuits 4504 a and 4504 b are sealed together with a filler4507 by the first substrate 4501, the sealant 4505, and the secondsubstrate 4506. It is preferable that the panel be packaged (sealed)with a protective film (e.g., an attachment film or an ultravioletcurable resin film) or a cover material, which has high air-tightnessand causes less degasification so that the panel is not exposed to theexternal air, in this manner.

Further, the pixel portion 4502, the signal line driver circuits 4503 aand 4503 b, and the scan line driver circuits 4504 a and 4504 b whichare provided over the first substrate 4501 each include a plurality ofthin film transistors, and a thin film transistor 4510 included in thepixel portion 4502 and a thin film transistor 4509 included in thesignal line driver circuit 4503 a are illustrated in FIG. 11B.

Any of the highly reliable thin film transistors including the oxidesemiconductor layers, which are described in Embodiments 1 to 6, can beused as the thin film transistors 4509 and 4510. Any of the thin filmtransistors 470, 210, 240, and 471 described in Embodiments 1 to 5 canbe used as the thin film transistor 4509 provided in the driver circuit.Any of the thin film transistors 460, 220, and 461 can be used as thethin film transistor 4510 provided in a pixel. In this embodiment, thethin film transistors 4509 and 4510 are n-channel thin film transistors.

A conductive layer 4540 is provided over part of an insulating layer4544 so as to overlap with a channel formation region of an oxidesemiconductor layer in the thin film transistor 4509 for the drivercircuit. The conductive layer 4540 is provided so as to overlap with thechannel formation region of the oxide semiconductor layer, whereby theamount of change in the threshold voltage of the thin film transistor4509 before and after BT test can be reduced. Further, a potential ofthe conductive layer 4540 may be the same as or different from that of agate electrode layer of the thin film transistor 4509. The conductivelayer 4540 can function also as a second gate electrode layer.Alternatively, the potential of the conductive layer 4540 may be GND or0 V, or the conductive layer 4540 may be in a floating state.

In the thin film transistors 4509 and 4510, an insulating layer 4543 isformed in contact with the semiconductor layer including the channelformation region, as a protective insulating film. The insulating layer4543 may be formed using a material and a method which are similar tothose of the oxide insulating layer 407 described in Embodiment 1.Further, an insulating layer 4545 functioning as a planarizationinsulating film covers the thin film transistors in order to reducesurface unevenness of the thin film transistors. Here, as the insulatinglayer 4545, a silicon oxide film is formed by sputtering, as describedin Embodiment 1.

A protective insulating layer 4547 is formed over the insulating layer4543. The protective insulating layer 4547 may be formed using amaterial and a method which are similar to those of the protectiveinsulating layer 408 described in Embodiment 1. Here, a silicon nitridefilm is formed by RF sputtering as the protective insulating layer 4547.

The insulating layer 4545 may be formed using a material and a methodwhich are similar to those of the planarization insulating layer 409described in Embodiment 1. Here, an acrylic resin is used for theinsulating layer 4545.

Further, reference numeral 4511 denotes a light-emitting element. Afirst electrode layer 4517 which is a pixel electrode of thelight-emitting element 4511 is electrically connected to a sourceelectrode layer or a drain electrode layer of the thin film transistor4510. Note that although the light-emitting element 4511 has a layeredstructure of the first electrode layer 4517, an electroluminescent layer4512, and a second electrode layer 4513, the structure of thelight-emitting element 4511 is not limited to the structure described inthis embodiment. The structure of the light-emitting element 4511 can bechanged as appropriate depending on a direction in which light isextracted from the light-emitting element 4511, or the like.

A partition 4520 is formed using an organic resin film, an inorganicinsulating film, or a polysiloxane. It is particularly preferable thatthe partition 4520 be formed using a photosensitive material and anopening portion be formed over the first electrode layer 4517 so that asidewall of the opening portion is formed as an inclined surface withcontinuous curvature.

The electroluminescent layer 4512 may be formed using either a singlelayer or a plurality of layers stacked.

A protective film may be formed over the second electrode layer 4513 andthe partition 4520 in order to prevent oxygen, hydrogen, water, carbondioxide, or the like from entering the light-emitting element 4511. Asthe protective film, a silicon nitride film, a silicon nitride oxidefilm, a DLC film, or the like can be formed.

A variety of signals and potentials are supplied from FPCs 4518 a and4518 b to the signal line driver circuits 4503 a and 4503 b, the scanline driver circuits 4504 a and 4504 b, or the pixel portion 4502.

A connection terminal electrode 4515 may be formed using the sameconductive film as the first electrode layer 4517 of the light-emittingelement 4511, and a terminal electrode 4516 is formed using the sameconductive film as a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layerof the thin film transistor 4509.

The connection terminal electrode 4515 is electrically connected to aterminal of the FPC 4518 a through an anisotropic conductive film 4519.

The second substrate located in the direction in which light isextracted from the light-emitting element 4511 needs to have alight-transmitting property. In this case, a light-transmitting materialsuch as a glass plate, a plastic plate, a polyester film, or an acrylicfilm is used.

Further, in addition to an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon, anultraviolet curable resin or a thermosetting resin can be used as thefiller 4507. PVC (poly(vinyl chloride)), an acrylic resin, polyimide, anepoxy resin, a silicone resin, PVB (poly(vinyl butyral)), or EVA (acopolymer of ethylene with vinyl acetate) can be used. For example,nitrogen may be used for the filler.

In addition, if needed, an optical film such as a polarizer, a circularpolarizer (including an elliptical polarizer), a retardation plate (aquarter-wave plate or a half-wave plate), or a color filter may beprovided as appropriate on a light-emitting surface of thelight-emitting element. Further, the polarizer or the circular polarizermay be provided with an anti-reflection film. For example, anti-glaretreatment can be performed by which reflected light can be diffused byprojections and depressions on a surface so that glare can be reduced.

Note that only the signal line driver circuits 4503 a and 4503 b or partthereof, or only the scan line driver circuits 4504 a and 4504 b or partthereof may be separately formed and mounted. This embodiment is notlimited to the structure illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

Through the above steps, a highly reliable light-emitting display device(display panel) can be manufactured as a semiconductor device.

This embodiment can be combined with any of the structures described inthe other embodiments as appropriate.

Embodiment 10

In this embodiment, an example in which at least some of driver circuitsand a thin film transistor provided in a pixel portion are formed overthe same substrate is described below.

The thin film transistor provided in the pixel portion is formed asdescribed in Embodiment 1, 5, or 6. Since the thin film transistorsdescribed in Embodiments 1 to 6 are n-channel TFTs, some of drivercircuits which can be formed using n-channel TFTs among the drivercircuits are formed over the same substrate as the thin film transistorin the pixel portion.

FIG. 14A illustrates an example of a block diagram of an active matrixdisplay device. A pixel portion 5301, a first scan line driver circuit5302, a second scan line driver circuit 5303, and a signal line drivercircuit 5304 are provided over a substrate 5300 in the display device.In the pixel portion 5301, a plurality of signal lines extended from thesignal line driver circuit 5304 are provided and a plurality of scanlines extended from the first scan line driver circuit 5302 and thesecond scan line driver circuit 5303 are provided. Note that pixels eachincluding a display element are arranged in matrix in regions where thescan lines and the signal lines intersect with each other. Further, thesubstrate 5300 in the display device is connected to a timing controlcircuit 5305 (also referred to as a controller or a control IC) througha connection portion such as an FPC (flexible printed circuit).

In FIG. 14A, the first scan line driver circuit 5302, the second scanline driver circuit 5303, and the signal line driver circuit 5304 areformed over the same substrate 5300 as the pixel portion 5301. Thus, thenumber of components of a driver circuit and the like which are providedoutside is reduced, so that cost can be reduced. Further, when wiringsare extended from the driver circuit provided outside the substrate5300, the number of connections in the connection portion can bereduced, and reliability and yield can be improved.

Note that the timing control circuit 5305 supplies, for example, a firstscan line driver circuit start signal (GSP1) (a start signal is alsoreferred to as a start pulse) and a scan line driver circuit clocksignal (GCK1) to the first scan line driver circuit 5302. Further, thetiming control circuit 5305 supplies, for example, a second scan linedriver circuit start signal (GSP2) and a scan line driver circuit clocksignal (GCK2) to the second scan line driver circuit 5303. The timingcontrol circuit 5305 supplies a signal line driver circuit start signal(SSP), a signal line driver circuit clock signal (SCK), video signaldata (DATA, also simply referred to as a video signal), and a latchsignal (LAT) to the signal line driver circuit 5304. Note that eachclock signal may be a plurality of clock signals with shifted phases ormay be supplied together with a signal (CKB) obtained by inversion ofthe clock signal. It is possible to eliminate one of the first scan linedriver circuit 5302 and the second scan line driver circuit 5303.

FIG. 14B illustrates a structure in which the first scan line drivercircuit 5302 and the second scan line driver circuit 5303 are formedover the same substrate 5300 as the pixel portion 5301, and the signalline driver circuit 5304 is formed over a substrate which is differentfrom the substrate 5300 where the pixel portion 5301 is formed.

The thin film transistors in Embodiments 1 to 6 are n-channel TFTs.FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate an example of a structure and operation ofa signal line driver circuit formed using n-channel TFTs.

The signal line driver circuit includes a shift register 5601 and aswitching circuit 5602. The switching circuit 5602 includes a pluralityof switching circuits 5602_1 to 5602_N (N is a natural number). Theswitching circuits 5602_1 to 5602_N each include a plurality of thinfilm transistors 5603_1 to 5603 _(—) k (k is a natural number). Anexample where the thin film transistors 5603_1 to 5603 _(—) k aren-channel TFTs is described below.

A connection relationship in the signal line driver circuit is describedusing the switching circuit 5602_1 as an example. First terminals of thethin film transistors 5603_1 to 5603 _(—) k are connected to wirings5604_1 to 5604 _(—) k, respectively. Second terminals of the thin filmtransistors 5603_1 to 5603 _(—) k are connected to signal lines S1 toSk, respectively. Gates of the thin film transistors 5603_1 to 5603 _(—)k are connected to a wiring 5605_1.

The shift register 5601 has a function of sequentially selecting theswitching circuits 5602_1 to 5602_N by sequentially outputting H-levelsignals (also referred to as H signals or signals at high power supplypotential levels) to the wiring 5605_1 and wirings 5605_2 to 5605_N.

The switching circuit 5602_1 has a function of controlling a conductionstate between the wiring 5604_1 and the signal line S1 (electricalcontinuity between the first terminal and the second terminal), that is,a function of controlling whether potential of the wirings 5604_1 issupplied to the signal line S1. In this manner, the switching circuit5602_1 functions as a selector. In a similar way, the thin filmtransistors 5603_2 to 5603 _(—) k have functions of controllingconduction states between the wirings 5604_2 to 5604 _(—) k and thesignal lines S2 to Sk, respectively, that is, functions of supplyingpotentials of the wirings 5604_2 to 5604 _(—) k to the signal lines S2to Sk, respectively. In this manner, each of the thin film transistors5603_1 to 5603 _(—) k functions as a switch.

The video signal data (DATA) is input to each of the wirings 5604_1 to5604 _(—) k. The video signal data (DATA) is an analog signalcorresponding to an image signal or image data.

Next, the operation of the signal line driver circuit in FIG. 15A isdescribed with reference to a timing chart in FIG. 15B. FIG. 15Billustrates examples of signals Sout_1 to Sout_N and signals Vdata_1 toVdata_k. The signals Sout_1 to Sout_N are examples of signals outputfrom the shift register 5601. The signals Vdata_1 to Vdata_k areexamples of signals input to the wirings 5604_1 to 5604 _(—) k. Notethat one operation period of the signal line driver circuit correspondsto one gate selection period in a display device. For example, one gateselection period is divided into periods T1 to TN. Each of the periodsT1 to TN is a period during which the video signal data (DATA) iswritten to a pixel in a selected row.

Note that signal waveform distortion and the like in each structureillustrated in drawings and the like in this embodiment are exaggeratedfor simplicity in some cases. Thus, this embodiment is not necessarilylimited to the scale illustrated in the drawings and the like.

In the periods T1 to TN, the shift register 5601 sequentially outputsH-level signals to the wirings 5605_1 to 5605_N. For example, in theperiod T1, the shift register 5601 outputs an H-level signal to thewiring 5605_1. Then, the thin film transistors 5603_1 to 5603 _(—) k areturned on, so that the wirings 5604_1 to 5604 _(—) k and the signallines S1 to Sk are brought into conduction. At this time, Data (S1) toData (Sk) are input to the wirings 5604_1 to 5604 _(—) k, respectively.The Data (S1) to Data (Sk) are written to pixels in first to k-thcolumns in a selected row through the thin film transistors 5603_1 to5603 _(—) k, respectively. In this manner, in the periods T1 to TN, thevideo signal data (DATA) is sequentially written to the pixels in theselected row by k columns.

When the video signal data (DATA) is written to pixels by a plurality ofcolumns as described above, the number of video signal data (DATA) orthe number of wirings can be reduced. Thus, the number of connectionswith an external circuit can be reduced. Further, writing time can beextended when video signals are written to pixels by a plurality ofcolumns; thus, insufficient writing of video signals can be prevented.

Note that any of the circuits formed using the thin film transistorsdescribed in Embodiments 1 to 6 can be used for the shift register 5601and the switching circuit 5602.

One embodiment of a shift register which is used for part of the scanline driver circuit and/or the signal line driver circuit is describedwith reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B and FIGS. 15A and 15B.

The scan line driver circuit includes a shift register. Further, thescan line driver circuit may include a level shifter, a buffer, or thelike in some cases. In the scan line driver circuit, a clock signal(CLK) and a start pulse signal (SP) are input to the shift register, sothat a selection signal is generated. The selection signal generated isbuffered and amplified in the buffer, and the resulting signal issupplied to a corresponding scan line. Gate electrodes of transistors inpixels of one line are connected to a scan line. Since the transistorsin the pixels of one line must be turned on all at once, a buffer whichcan supply a large amount of current is used.

One embodiment of a shift register which is used for part of the scanline driver circuit and/or the signal line driver circuit is describedwith reference to FIGS. 16A to 16D and FIGS. 17A and 17B.

The shift register in the scan line driver circuit and/or the signalline driver circuit is described with reference to FIGS. 16A to 16D andFIGS. 17A and 17B. The shift register includes first to N-th pulseoutput circuits 10_1 to 10_N (N is a natural number greater than orequal to 3) (see FIG. 16A). In the first to N-th pulse output circuits10_1 to 10_N in the shift register illustrated in FIG. 16A, a firstclock signal CK1, a second clock signal CK2, a third clock signal CK3,and a fourth clock signal CK4 are supplied from a first wiring 11, asecond wiring 12, a third wiring 13, and a fourth wiring 14,respectively. A start pulse SP1 (a first start pulse) is input from afifth wiring 15 to the first pulse output circuit 10_1. To the n-thpulse output circuit 10 _(—) n of the second or subsequent stage (n is anatural number greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N),a signal from the pulse output circuit of the preceding stage (such asignal is referred to as a preceding-stage signal OUT(n−1)) is input. Tothe first pulse output circuit 10_1, a signal from the third pulseoutput circuit 10_3 of the stage following the next stage is input.Similarly, to the n-th pulse output circuit 10 _(—) n of the second orsubsequent stage, a signal from the (n+2)th pulse output circuit10_(n+2) of the stage following the next stage (such a signal isreferred to as a subsequent-stage signal OUT(n+2)) is input. Therefore,from the pulse output circuits of the respective stages, first outputsignals OUT(1)(SR) to OUT(N)(SR) to be input to the pulse outputcircuits of the subsequent stages and/or the stages before the precedingstages and second output signals OUT(1) to OUT(N) to be input todifferent circuits or the like are output. Note that since thesubsequent-stage signal OUT(n+2) is not input to the last two stages ofthe shift register as illustrated in FIG. 16A, a second start pulse SP2and a third start pulse SP3 may be input to the stage before the laststage and the last stage, respectively, for example.

Note that a clock signal (CK) is a signal that oscillates between anH-level signal and an L-level signal (also referred to as an L signal ora signal at a low power supply potential level) at regular intervals.Here, the first clock signal (CK1) to the fourth clock signal (CK4) aredelayed by ¼ cycle sequentially (i.e., they are 90° out of phase witheach other). In this embodiment, driving of the pulse output circuits iscontrolled with the first to fourth clock signals (CK1) to (CK4). Notethat the clock signal is also referred to as GCK or SCK in some casesdepending on a driver circuit to which the clock signal is input, andthe clock signal is referred to as CK in the following description.

FIG. 16B is one of the pulse output circuits 10 _(—) n shown in FIG.16A. A first input terminal 21, a second input terminal 22, and a thirdinput terminal 23 are electrically connected to any of the first tofourth wirings 11 to 14. For example, in the first pulse output circuit10_1 in FIG. 16A, the first input terminal 21 is electrically connectedto the first wiring 11, the second input terminal 22 is electricallyconnected to the second wiring 12, and the third input terminal 23 iselectrically connected to the third wiring 13. In the second pulseoutput circuit 10_2, the first input terminal 21 is electricallyconnected to the second wiring 12, the second input terminal 22 iselectrically connected to the third wiring 13, and the third inputterminal 23 is electrically connected to the fourth wiring 14.

Each of the first to N-th pulse output circuits 10_1 to 10_N includesthe first input terminal 21, the second input terminal 22, the thirdinput terminal 23, a fourth input terminal 24, a fifth input terminal25, a first output terminal 26, and a second output terminal 27 (seeFIG. 16B). In the first pulse output circuit 10_1, the first clocksignal CK1 is input to the first input terminal 21; the second clocksignal CK2 is input to the second input terminal 22; the third clocksignal CK3 is input to the third input terminal 23; a start pulse isinput to the fourth input terminal 24; a subsequent-stage signal OUT(3)is input to the fifth input terminal 25; the first output signalOUT(1)(SR) is output from the first output terminal 26; and the secondoutput signal OUT(1) is output from the second output terminal 27.

Note that in the first to N-th pulse output circuits 10_1 to 10_N, thethin film transistor (TFT) having four terminals, which is described inthe above embodiment, can be used in addition to a thin film transistorhaving three terminals. FIG. 16C illustrates the symbol of a thin filmtransistor 28 having four terminals, which is described in the aboveembodiment. The symbol of the thin film transistor 28 illustrated inFIG. 16C indicates the thin film transistor having four terminals, whichis described in any of Embodiments 1 to 5, and is used in the drawingsand the like. Note that in this specification, when a thin filmtransistor has two gate electrodes with a semiconductor layertherebetween, the gate electrode below the semiconductor layer is alsocalled a lower gate electrode and the gate electrode above thesemiconductor layer is also called an upper gate electrode. The thinfilm transistor 28 is an element which can control electric currentbetween an IN terminal and an OUT terminal with a first control signalG1 which is input to a lower gate electrode and a second control signalG2 which is input to an upper gate electrode.

When an oxide semiconductor is used for a semiconductor layer includinga channel formation region in a thin film transistor, the thresholdvoltage sometimes shifts in a positive or negative direction dependingon a manufacturing process. For that reason, the thin film transistor inwhich an oxide semiconductor is used for a semiconductor layer includinga channel formation region preferably has a structure with which thethreshold voltage can be controlled. The threshold voltage of the thinfilm transistor 28 having four terminals can be controlled to be adesired level by providing gate electrodes above and below a channelformation region of the thin film transistor 28 and controlling apotential of the upper gate electrode and/or the lower gate electrode.

Next, an example of a specific circuit structure of the pulse outputcircuit illustrated in FIG. 16B is described with reference to FIG. 16D.

A first pulse output circuit illustrated in FIG. 16D includes first tothirteenth transistors 31 to 43. Signals or power supply potentials aresupplied to the first to thirteenth transistors 31 to 43 from a powersupply line 51 to which a first high power supply potential VDD issupplied, from a power supply line 52 to which a second high powersupply potential VCC is supplied, and from a power supply line 53 towhich a low power supply potential VSS is supplied, in addition to thefirst to fifth input terminals 21 to 25. Signals and the like are outputfrom the first output terminal 26 and the second output terminal 27. Therelationship of the power supply potentials of the power supply lines inFIG. 16D is as follows: the first power supply potential VDD is higherthan or equal to the second power supply potential VCC, and the secondpower supply potential VCC is higher than the third power supplypotential VSS. Note that each of the first to fourth clock signals (CK1)to (CK4) oscillates between an H-level signal and an L-level signal atregular intervals; the clock signal at an H level is VDD and the clocksignal at an L level is VSS. By making the potential VDD of the powersupply line 51 higher than the potential VCC of the power supply line52, a potential applied to a gate electrode of a transistor can belowered, shift in the threshold voltage of the transistor can bereduced, and degradation of the transistor can be suppressed withoutadverse effects on the operation of the transistor. The thin filmtransistor 28 having four terminals in FIG. 16C is preferably used aseach of the first transistor 31 and the sixth to ninth transistors 36 to39 among the first to thirteenth transistors 31 to 43, as illustrated inFIG. 16D. The first transistor 31 and the sixth to ninth transistors 36to 39 need to operate so that a potential of a node to which oneelectrode serving as a source or a drain is connected is switched, witha control signal of a gate electrode, and can further reduce amalfunction of the pulse output circuit because response to the controlsignal input to the gate electrode is fast (the rise of on-state currentis steep). Thus, by using the thin film transistor 28 having fourterminals in FIG. 16C, the threshold voltage can be controlled, and amalfunction of the pulse output circuit can be further reduced. Notethat although the first control signal G1 and the second control signalG2 are the same control signals in FIG. 16D, the first control signal G1and the second control signal G2 may be different control signals.

In FIG. 16D, a first terminal of the first transistor 31 is electricallyconnected to the power supply line 51; a second terminal of the firsttransistor 31 is electrically connected to a first terminal of the ninthtransistor 39; and gate electrodes (a lower gate electrode and an uppergate electrode) of the first transistor 31 are electrically connected tothe fourth input terminal 24. A first terminal of the second transistor32 is electrically connected to the power supply line 53; a secondterminal of the second transistor 32 is electrically connected to thefirst terminal of the ninth transistor 39; and a gate electrode of thesecond transistor 32 is electrically connected to a gate electrode ofthe fourth transistor 34. A first terminal of the third transistor 33 iselectrically connected to the first input terminal 21, and a secondterminal of the third transistor 33 is electrically connected to thefirst output terminal 26. A first terminal of the fourth transistor 34is electrically connected to the power supply line 53, and a secondterminal of the fourth transistor 34 is electrically connected to thefirst output terminal 26. A first terminal of the fifth transistor 35 iselectrically connected to the power supply line 53; a second terminal ofthe fifth transistor 35 is electrically connected to the gate electrodeof the second transistor 32 and the gate electrode of the fourthtransistor 34; and a gate electrode of the fifth transistor 35 iselectrically connected to the fourth input terminal 24. A first terminalof the sixth transistor 36 is electrically connected to the power supplyline 52; a second terminal of the sixth transistor 36 is electricallyconnected to the gate electrode of the second transistor 32 and the gateelectrode of the fourth transistor 34; and gate electrodes (a lower gateelectrode and an upper gate electrode) of the sixth transistor 36 areelectrically connected to the fifth input terminal 25. A first terminalof the seventh transistor 37 is electrically connected to the powersupply line 52, a second terminal of the seventh transistor 37 iselectrically connected to a second terminal of the eighth transistor 38,and gate electrodes (a lower gate electrode and an upper gate electrode)of the seventh transistor 37 are electrically connected to the thirdinput terminal 23. A first terminal of the eighth transistor 38 iselectrically connected to the gate electrode of the second transistor 32and the gate electrode of the fourth transistor 34, and gate electrodes(a lower gate electrode and an upper gate electrode) of the eighthtransistor 38 are electrically connected to the second input terminal22. The first terminal of the ninth transistor 39 is electricallyconnected to the second terminal of the first transistor 31 and thesecond terminal of the second transistor 32; a second terminal of theninth transistor 39 is electrically connected to a gate electrode of thethird transistor 33 and a gate electrode of the tenth transistor 40, andgate electrodes (a lower gate electrode and an upper gate electrode) ofthe ninth transistor 39 are electrically connected to the power supplyline 52. A first terminal of the tenth transistor 40 is electricallyconnected to the first input terminal 21; a second terminal of the tenthtransistor 40 is electrically connected to the second output terminal27; and the gate electrode of the tenth transistor 40 is electricallyconnected to the second terminal of the ninth transistor 39. A firstterminal of the eleventh transistor 41 is electrically connected to thepower supply line 53; a second terminal of the eleventh transistor 41 iselectrically connected to the second output terminal 27; and a gateelectrode of the eleventh transistor 41 is electrically connected to thegate electrode of the second transistor 32 and the gate electrode of thefourth transistor 34. A first terminal of the twelfth transistor 42 iselectrically connected to the power supply line 53; a second terminal ofthe twelfth transistor 42 is electrically connected to the second outputterminal 27; and a gate electrode of the twelfth transistor 42 iselectrically connected to the gate electrodes (the lower gate electrodeand the upper gate electrode) of the seventh transistor 37. A firstterminal of the thirteenth transistor 43 is electrically connected tothe power supply line 53; a second terminal of the thirteenth transistor43 is electrically connected to the first output terminal 26; and a gateelectrode of the thirteenth transistor 43 is electrically connected tothe gate electrodes (the lower gate electrode and the upper gateelectrode) of the seventh transistor 37.

In FIG. 16D, a portion where the gate electrode of the third transistor33, the gate electrode of the tenth transistor 40, and the secondterminal of the ninth transistor 39 are connected to each other isreferred to as a node A. Further, a portion where the gate electrode ofthe second transistor 32, the gate electrode of the fourth transistor34, the second terminal of the fifth transistor 35, the second terminalof the sixth transistor 36, the first terminal of the eighth transistor38, and the gate electrode of the eleventh transistor 41 are connectedto each other is referred to as a node B (see FIG. 17A).

FIG. 17A illustrates signals which are input to or output from the firstto fifth input terminals 21 to 25 and the first and second outputterminals 26 and 27 when the pulse output circuit illustrated in FIG.16D is applied to the first pulse output circuit 10_1.

Specifically, the first clock signal CK1 is input to the first inputterminal 21; the second clock signal CK2 is input to the second inputterminal 22; the third clock signal CK3 is input to the third inputterminal 23; the start pulse (SP1) is input to the fourth input terminal24; the subsequent-stage signal OUT(3) is input to the fifth inputterminal 25; the first output signal OUT(1)(SR) is output from the firstoutput terminal 26; and the second output signal OUT(1) is output fromthe second output terminal 27.

Note that a thin film transistor is an element having at least threeterminals of a gate, a drain, and a source. The thin film transistor hasa semiconductor including a channel region formed in a regionoverlapping with the gate. Current which flows between the drain and thesource through the channel region can be controlled by control of apotential of the gate. Here, since the source and the drain of the thinfilm transistor change depending on the structure, the operatingcondition, and the like of the thin film transistor, it is difficult todefine which is a source or a drain. Thus, regions functioning as asource and a drain are not called a source and a drain in some cases. Inthat case, for example, such regions might be referred to as a firstterminal and a second terminal.

Note that in FIG. 16D and FIG. 17A, a capacitor for performing bootstrapoperation by making the node A be in a floating state may beadditionally provided. Further, a capacitor having one electrodeelectrically connected to the node B may be additionally provided inorder to hold a potential of the node B.

FIG. 17B illustrates a timing chart of a shift register including aplurality of pulse output circuits illustrated in FIG. 17A. Note thatwhen the shift register is included in a scan line driver circuit, aperiod 61 in FIG. 17B corresponds to a vertical retrace period and aperiod 62 corresponds to a gate selection period.

Note that the provision of the ninth transistor 39 whose gate electrodeis supplied with the second power supply potential VCC as illustrated inFIG. 17A has the following advantages before and after bootstrapoperation.

Without the provision of the ninth transistor 39 whose gate electrode issupplied with the second power supply potential VCC, if a potential ofthe node A is raised by bootstrap operation, a potential of the sourcewhich is the second terminal of the first transistor 31 rises to apotential which is higher than the first power supply potential VDD.Then, the source of the first transistor 31 is switched to the firstterminal, that is, the terminal on the power supply line 51 side. Thus,in the first transistor 31, high bias voltage is applied and thussignificant stress is applied between the gate and the source andbetween the gate and the drain, which might cause deterioration of thetransistor. With the provision of the ninth transistor 39 whose gateelectrode is supplied with the second power supply potential VCC, theincrease in the potential of the second terminal of the first transistor31 can be prevented, though the potential of the node A is raised bybootstrap operation. In other words, the provision of the ninthtransistor 39 can lower the level of negative bias voltage appliedbetween the gate and the source of the first transistor 31. Thus, thecircuit structure in this embodiment can reduce negative bias voltageapplied between the gate and the source of the first transistor 31, sothat deterioration of the first transistor 31 due to stress can besuppressed.

Note that the ninth transistor 39 can be provided anywhere as long asthe first terminal and the second terminal of the ninth transistor 39are connected between the second terminal of the first transistor 31 andthe gate of the third transistor 33. Note that when the shift registerincluding a plurality of pulse output circuits in this embodiment isincluded in a signal line driver circuit having a larger number ofstages than a scan line driver circuit, the ninth transistor 39 can beeliminated, which leads to reduction in the number of transistors.

Note that when an oxide semiconductor is used for semiconductor layersof the first to thirteenth transistors 31 to 43, the amount of theoff-state current of the thin film transistors can be reduced, theamount of the on-state current and field-effect mobility can beincreased, and the rate of degradation of the transistors can bereduced. Thus, a malfunction in the circuit can be reduced. Further, therate of deterioration of the transistor including an oxide semiconductorby application of a high potential to a gate electrode is lower thanthat of a transistor including amorphous silicon. Thus, similaroperation can be obtained even when the first power supply potential VDDis supplied to the power supply line to which the second power supplypotential VCC is supplied, and the number of power supply lines placedbetween circuits can be reduced; thus, the size of the circuit can bereduced.

Note that a similar function is obtained even when the connectionrelationship is changed so that a clock signal which is supplied to thegate electrodes (the lower gate electrode and the upper gate electrode)of the seventh transistor 37 from the third input terminal 23 and aclock signal which is supplied to the gate electrodes (the lower gateelectrode and the upper gate electrode) of the eighth transistor 38 fromthe second input terminal 22 are supplied from the second input terminal22 and the third input terminal 23, respectively. Here, in the shiftregister illustrated in FIG. 17A, the states of the seventh transistor37 and the eighth transistor 38 are changed so that both the seventhtransistor 37 and the eighth transistor 38 are on, then the seventhtransistor 37 is off and the eighth transistor 38 is on, and then theseventh transistor 37 and the eighth transistor 38 are off; thus, thefall in potential of the node B due to the fall in potentials of thesecond input terminal 22 and the third input terminal 23 is caused twiceby the fall in a potential of the gate electrode of the seventhtransistor 37 and the fall in a potential of the gate electrode of theeighth transistor 38. On the other hand, when the states of the seventhtransistor 37 and the eighth transistor 38 in the shift registerillustrated in FIG. 17A are changed as in the period in FIG. 17B so thatboth the seventh transistor 37 and the eighth transistor 38 are on, thenthe seventh transistor 37 is on and the eighth transistor 38 is off, andthen the seventh transistor 37 and the eighth transistor 38 are off, thefall in the potential of the node B due to the fall in the potentials ofthe second input terminal 22 and the third input terminal 23 is causedonce by the fall in the potential of the gate electrode of the eighthtransistor 38. Thus, the connection relation, that is, the clock signalCK3 is supplied from the third input terminal 23 to the gate electrodes(the lower gate electrode and the upper gate electrode) of the seventhtransistor 37 and the clock signal CK2 is supplied from the second inputterminal 22 to the gate electrodes (the lower gate electrode and theupper gate electrode) of the eighth transistor 38, is preferable. Thisis because the number of times of the change in the potential of thenode B can be reduced, whereby the noise can be reduced.

In this manner, an H-level signal is regularly supplied to the node B ina period during which the potentials of the first output terminal 26 andthe second output terminal 27 are held at an L level; thus, amalfunction of the pulse output circuit can be suppressed.

This embodiment can be freely combined with any of the otherembodiments.

Embodiment 11

A semiconductor device disclosed in this specification can be applied toelectronic paper. Electronic paper can be used for electronic devices inall fields as long as they display data. For example, electronic papercan be applied to an e-book reader (an electronic book), a poster, anadvertisement in a vehicle such as a train, or displays of a variety ofcards such as a credit card. FIG. 20 illustrates an example of anelectronic device.

FIG. 20 illustrates an e-book reader 2700. For example, the e-bookreader 2700 includes two housings 2701 and 2703. The housings 2701 and2703 are combined with each other with a hinge 2711 so that the e-bookreader 2700 can be opened and closed with the hinge 2711 as an axis.With such a structure, the e-book reader 2700 can be operated like apaper book.

A display portion 2705 is incorporated in the housing 2701, and adisplay portion 2707 is incorporated in the housing 2703. The displayportions 2705 and 2707 may display one image or different images. In thecase where the display portion 2705 and 2707 display different images,for example, a display portion on the right side (the display portion2705 in FIG. 20) can display text and a display portion on the left side(the display portion 2707 in FIG. 20) can display images.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example in which the housing 2701 includes anoperation portion and the like. For example, the housing 2701 includes apower switch 2721, operation keys 2723, a speaker 2725, and the like.With the operation keys 2723, pages can be turned. Note that a keyboard,a pointing device, or the like may be provided on a surface of thehousing, on which the display portion is provided. Further, an externalconnection terminal (e.g., an earphone terminal, a USB terminal, or aterminal which can be connected to a variety of cables such as USBcables), a recording medium insertion portion, or the like may beprovided on a back surface or a side surface of the housing.Furthermore, the e-book reader 2700 may function as an electronicdictionary.

Further, the e-book reader 2700 may transmit and receive datawirelessly. Through wireless communication, desired book data or thelike can be purchased and downloaded from an electronic book server.

Embodiment 12

A semiconductor device disclosed in this specification can be used in avariety of electronic devices (including game machines). Examples ofelectronic devices are a television set (also referred to as atelevision or a television receiver), a monitor of a computer or thelike, a camera such as a digital camera or a digital video camera, adigital photo frame, a mobile phone handset (also referred to as amobile phone or a mobile phone device), a portable game machine, aportable information terminal, an audio reproducing device, a large gamemachine such as a pinball machine, and the like.

FIG. 21A illustrates a television set 9600. In the television set 9600,a display portion 9603 is incorporated in a housing 9601. The displayportion 9603 can display images. Further, here, the housing 9601 issupported by a stand 9605.

The television set 9600 can be operated with an operation switch of thehousing 9601 or a separate remote controller 9610. Channels and volumecan be controlled with operation keys 9609 of the remote controller9610, so that images displayed on the display portion 9603 can becontrolled. Further, the remote controller 9610 may include a displayportion 9607 for displaying data output from the remote controller 9610.

Note that the television set 9600 includes a receiver, a modem, and thelike. With the receiver, general television broadcasts can be received.Further, by connecting the television set to a wired or wirelesscommunication network via the modem, one-way (from a transmitter to areceiver) or two-way (between a transmitter and a receiver, betweenreceivers, or the like) information communication can be performed.

FIG. 21B illustrates a digital photo frame 9700. For example, in thedigital photo frame 9700, a display portion 9703 is incorporated in ahousing 9701. The display portion 9703 can display a variety of images.For example, the display portion 9703 can display data of imagesphotographed with a digital camera or the like, so that the digitalphoto frame can function as a normal photo frame.

Note that the digital photo frame 9700 includes an operation portion, anexternal connection terminal (e.g., a USB terminal or a terminal whichcan be connected to a variety of cables such as USB cables), a recordingmedium insertion portion, and the like. Although they may be provided onthe same surface as the display portion, it is preferable to providethem on a side surface or a back surface because the design of thedigital photo frame is improved. For example, a memory which stores dataof images photographed with a digital camera is inserted in therecording medium insertion portion of the digital photo frame so thatthe data of the images can be loaded, and the images can be displayed onthe display portion 9703.

Further, the digital photo frame 9700 may transmit and receive datawirelessly. Through wireless communication, desired image data can beloaded and displayed.

FIG. 22A is a portable game machine, which includes two housings 9881and 9891 connected to each other with a joint portion 9893 so that theportable game machine can be opened or folded. A display portion 9882and a display portion 9883 are incorporated in the housing 9881 and thehousing 9891, respectively. In addition, the portable game machineillustrated in FIG. 22A further includes a speaker portion 9884, arecording medium insertion portion 9886, an LED lamp 9890, input means(operation keys 9885, a connection terminal 9887, a sensor 9888 (havinga function of measuring force, displacement, position, speed,acceleration, angular velocity, rotation number, distance, light,liquid, magnetism, temperature, chemical substance, sound, time,hardness, electric field, current, voltage, electric power, radial ray,flow rate, humidity, gradient, vibration, smell, or infrared ray), and amicrophone 9889), and the like. Needless to say, the structure of theportable game machine is not limited to the above and other structuresprovided with at least a semiconductor device disclosed in thisspecification may be employed. The portable game machine may includeother accessories as appropriate. The portable game machine illustratedin FIG. 22A has a function of reading a program or data stored in arecording medium to display it on the display portion, and a function ofsharing information with another portable game machine through wirelesscommunication. Note that the function of the portable game machineillustrated in FIG. 22A is not limited to those described above, and theportable game machine can have a variety of functions.

FIG. 22B illustrates a slot machine 9900, which is a large game machine.In the slot machine 9900, a display portion 9903 is incorporated in ahousing 9901. In addition, the slot machine 9900 further includes anoperation means such as a start lever or a stop switch, a coin slot, aspeaker, and the like. Needless to say, the structure of the slotmachine 9900 is not limited to the above and other structures providedwith at least a semiconductor device disclosed in this specification maybe employed. The slot machine 9900 may include other accessories asappropriate.

FIG. 23A is a perspective view illustrating an example of a mobilecomputer.

In the mobile computer illustrated in FIG. 23A, an upper housing 9301having a display portion 9303 and a lower housing 9302 having a keyboard9304 can overlap with each other by closing a hinge unit which connectsthe upper housing 9301 and the lower housing 9302. The mobile computerillustrated in FIG. 23A is conveniently carried. Further, in the case ofusing the keyboard for input of data, the hinge unit is opened so that auser can input data looking at the display portion 9303.

The lower housing 9302 includes a pointing device 9306 with which inputcan be performed, in addition to the keyboard 9304. When the displayportion 9303 is a touch panel, a user can input data by touching part ofthe display portion. The lower housing 9302 includes an arithmeticfunction portion such as a CPU or hard disk. In addition, the lowerhousing 9302 includes another device, for example, an externalconnection port 9305 into which a communication cable based oncommunication standards of a USB is inserted.

The upper housing 9301 further includes a display portion 9307 which canbe stored in the upper housing 9301 by being slid therein. Thus, a largedisplay screen can be realized. In addition, a user can adjust the angleof a screen of the display portion 9307 which can be stored in the upperhousing 9301. If the display portion 9307 which can be stored in theupper housing 9301 is a touch panel, the user can input data by touchingpart of the display portion 9307.

The display portion 9303 or the display portion 9307 which can be storedin the upper housing 9301 is formed using an image display device suchas a liquid crystal display panel or a light-emitting display panelincluding an organic light-emitting element, an inorganic light-emittingelement, or the like.

In addition, the mobile computer illustrated in FIG. 23A can include areceiver and the like and can receive a TV broadcast to display imageson the display portion. The user can watch a TV broadcast with theentire screen of the display portion 9307 by sliding and exposing thedisplay portion 9307 while the hinge unit which connects the upperhousing 9301 and the lower housing 9302 is kept closed. In this case,the hinge unit is not opened and display is not performed on the displayportion 9303. In addition, start up of only a circuit for displaying aTV broadcast is performed. Thus, power consumption can be minimized,which is useful for the mobile computer whose battery capacity islimited.

FIG. 23B is a perspective view of an example of a mobile phone that theuser can wear on the wrist like a wristwatch.

This mobile phone includes a main body which includes a battery and acommunication device having at least a telephone function, a bandportion 9204 which enables the main body to be worn on the wrist, anadjustment portion 9205 for adjusting the band portion 9204 to fit thewrist, a display portion 9201, a speaker 9207, and a microphone 9208.

In addition, the main body includes operation switches 9203. Theoperation switches 9203 can serve, for example, as a switch for startinga program for the Internet when pushed, in addition to serving as apower switch, a switch for switching displays, a switch for instructionto start photographing images, or the like, and can be configured tohave respective functions.

A user can input data to this mobile phone by touching the displayportion 9201 with a finger or an input pen, operating the operationswitches 9203, or inputting voice to the microphone 9208. Note that InFIG. 23B, display buttons 9202 are displayed on the display portion9201. The user can input data by touching the display buttons 9202 witha finger or the like.

Further, the main body includes a camera portion 9206 including an imagepickup means having a function of converting an image of an object,which is formed through a camera lens, to an electronic image signal.Note that the camera portion is not necessarily provided.

The mobile phone illustrated in FIG. 23B includes a receiver of a TVbroadcast and the like and can display images on the display portion9201 by receiving the TV broadcast. In addition, the mobile phoneincludes a memory device such as a memory, and the like, and can recordthe content of the TV broadcast in the memory. The mobile phoneillustrated in FIG. 23B may have a function of collecting locationinformation, such as GPS.

An image display device such as a liquid crystal display panel or alight-emitting display panel including an organic light-emittingelement, an inorganic light-emitting element, or the like is used as thedisplay portion 9201. The mobile phone illustrated in FIG. 23B iscompact and lightweight, and the battery capacity is limited. For theabove reason, a panel which can be driven with low power consumption ispreferably used as a display device for the display portion 9201.

Note that although FIG. 23B illustrates the electronic device which isworn on the wrist, this embodiment is not limited to this as long as anelectronic device is portable.

Embodiment 13

In this embodiment, as one mode of a semiconductor device, examples ofdisplay devices each including the thin film transistor described in anyof Embodiments 1 to 6 are described with reference to FIGS. 24 to 37. Inthis embodiment, examples of liquid crystal display devices eachincluding a liquid crystal element as a display element are describedwith reference to FIGS. 24 to 37. The thin film transistor described inany of Embodiments 1 to 6 can be used as each of TFTs 628 and 629 usedin the liquid crystal display devices in FIGS. 24 to 37. The TFTs 628and 629 can be manufactured through steps which are similar to thosedescribed in any of Embodiments 1 to 6 and have excellent electricalcharacteristics and high reliability.

First, a vertical alignment (VA) liquid crystal display device isdescribed. The VA is a method for controlling alignment of liquidcrystal molecules of a liquid crystal display. In the VA liquid crystaldisplay device, liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a verticaldirection with respect to a panel surface when no voltage is applied. Inthis embodiment, in particular, a pixel is divided into some regions(subpixels), and liquid crystal molecules are aligned in differentdirections in their respective regions. This is referred to asmulti-domain or multi-domain design. Liquid crystal display devices ofmulti-domain design are described below.

FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 illustrate a pixel electrode and a counterelectrode, respectively. Note that FIG. 25 is a plan view illustrating asubstrate side where the pixel electrode is formed. FIG. 24 illustratesa cross-sectional structure taken along section line E-F in FIG. 25.FIG. 26 is a plan view illustrating a substrate side where the counterelectrode is formed. Description below is made with reference to thesedrawings.

In FIG. 24, a substrate 600 over which a TFT 628, a pixel electrodelayer 624 which is connected to the TFT 628, and a storage capacitorportion 630 are formed and a counter substrate 601 provided with acounter electrode layer 640 and the like overlap with each other, andliquid crystals are injected between the substrate 600 and the countersubstrate 601.

The counter substrate 601 is provided with a coloring film 636 and thecounter electrode layer 640, and protrusions 644 are formed on thecounter electrode layer 640. An alignment film 648 is formed over thepixel electrode layer 624, and an alignment film 646 is similarly formedon the counter electrode layer 640 and the protrusions 644. A liquidcrystal layer 650 is formed between the substrate 600 and the countersubstrate 601.

The TFT 628, the pixel electrode layer 624 which is connected to the TFT628, and the storage capacitor portion 630 are formed over the substrate600. The pixel electrode layer 624 is connected to a wiring 618 througha contact hole 623 which penetrates insulating films 620 and 621 forcovering the TFT 628, a wiring 616, and the storage capacitor portion630 and also penetrates an insulating film 622 for covering theinsulating films 620 and 621. The thin film transistor described in anyof Embodiments 1 to 6 can be used as the TFT 628 as appropriate.Further, the storage capacitor portion 630 includes a first capacitorwiring 604 which is formed at the same time as a gate wiring 602 of theTFT 628; a first gate insulating film 606 a; a second gate insulatingfilm 606 b; and a second capacitor wiring 617 which is formed at thesame time as the wirings 616 and 618.

The pixel electrode layer 624, the liquid crystal layer 650, and thecounter electrode layer 640 overlap with each other, whereby a liquidcrystal element is formed.

FIG. 25 illustrates a planar structure on the substrate 600. The pixelelectrode layer 624 is formed using the material described inEmbodiment 1. The pixel electrode layer 624 is provided with slits 625.The slits 625 are provided for controlling the alignment of the liquidcrystals.

A TFT 629, a pixel electrode layer 626 which is connected to the TFT629, and a storage capacitor portion 631 which are illustrated in FIG.25 can be formed in a manner which is similar to that of the TFT 628,the pixel electrode layer 624, and the storage capacitor portion 630.Both the TFTs 628 and 629 are connected to the wiring 616. A pixel ofthis liquid crystal display panel includes the pixel electrode layers624 and 626. The pixel electrode layers 624 and 626 constitutesubpixels.

FIG. 26 illustrates a planar structure of the counter substrate side.The counter electrode layer 640 is preferably formed using a materialwhich is similar to that of the pixel electrode layer 624. Theprotrusions 644 which control the alignment of the liquid crystals areformed on the counter electrode layer 640. Note that in FIG. 26, thepixel electrode layers 624 and 626 formed over the substrate 600 areindicated by dashed lines, and the counter electrode layer 640 and thepixel electrode layers 624 and 626 overlap with each other.

FIG. 27 illustrates an equivalent circuit of this pixel structure. Boththe TFTs 628 and 629 are connected to the gate wiring 602 and the wiring616. In that case, when potentials of the capacitor wiring 604 and acapacitor wiring 605 are different from each other, operations of liquidcrystal elements 651 and 652 can be different from each other. In otherwords, the alignment of the liquid crystals is precisely controlled anda viewing angle is increased by separate control of the potentials ofthe capacitor wirings 604 and 605.

When voltage is applied to the pixel electrode layer 624 provided withthe slits 625, a distorted electric field (an oblique electric field) isgenerated in the vicinity of the slits 625. The protrusions 644 on thecounter substrate 601 side and the slits 625 are disposed so as not tooverlap with each other. Thus, the oblique electric field is effectivelygenerated and the alignment of the liquid crystals is controlled,whereby the alignment of the liquid crystals varies depending on thelocation. In other words, the viewing angle of the liquid crystaldisplay panel is increased by multi-domain.

Next, a VA liquid crystal display device, which is different from theabove device, is described with reference to FIG. 28, FIG. 29, FIG. 30,and FIG. 31.

FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 illustrate a pixel structure of a VA liquid crystaldisplay panel. FIG. 29 is a plan view of the substrate 600. FIG. 28illustrates a cross-sectional structure taken along section line Y-Z inFIG. 29.

In this pixel structure, a plurality of pixel electrodes are provided inone pixel, and a TFT is connected to each of the pixel electrodes. Theplurality of TFTs are driven by different gate signals. In other words,signals applied to individual pixel electrodes in a multi-domain pixelare controlled independently.

The pixel electrode layer 624 is connected to the TFT 628 through thewiring 618 in the contact hole 623 which penetrates the insulating films620, 621, and 622. The pixel electrode layer 626 is connected to the TFT629 through a wiring 619 in a contact hole 627 which penetrates theinsulating films 620, 621, and 622. The gate wiring 602 of the TFT 628is separated from a gate wiring 603 of the TFT 629 so that differentgate signals can be supplied. On the other hand, the wiring 616 servingas a data line is shared by the TFTs 628 and 629. The thin filmtransistor described in any of Embodiments 1 to 6 can be used asappropriate as each of the TFTs 628 and 629. Note that the first gateinsulating film 606 a and the second gate insulating film 606 b areformed over the gate wiring 602, the gate wiring 603, and a capacitorwiring 690.

The shape of the pixel electrode layer 624 is different from that of thepixel electrode layer 626, and the pixel electrode layer 626 is formedso as to surround the external side of the pixel electrode layer 624which spreads into a V shape. Voltage applied to the pixel electrodelayer 624 by the TFT 628 is made to be different from voltage applied tothe pixel electrode layer 626 by the TFT 629, whereby alignment ofliquid crystals is controlled. FIG. 31 illustrates an equivalent circuitof this pixel structure. The TFT 628 is connected to the gate wiring602, and the TFT 629 is connected to the gate wiring 603. Both the TFTs628 and 629 are connected to the wiring 616. When different gate signalsare supplied to the gate wirings 602 and 603, operations of the liquidcrystal elements 651 and 652 can be different from each other. In otherwords, by controlling the operations of the TFTs 628 and 629 separately,the alignment of the liquid crystals in the liquid crystal elements 651and 652 is controlled precisely, which leads to a wider viewing angle.

The counter substrate 601 is provided with the coloring film 636 and thecounter electrode layer 640. A planarization film 637 is formed betweenthe coloring film 636 and the counter electrode layer 640 to preventalignment disorder of the liquid crystals. FIG. 30 illustrates a planarstructure of the counter substrate side. The counter electrode layer 640is an electrode shared by different pixels and slits 641 are formed. Theslits 641 and the slits 625 on the pixel electrode layer 624 and 626sides are disposed so as not to overlap with each other. Thus, anoblique electric field is effectively generated and the alignment of theliquid crystals can be controlled. Accordingly, the alignment of theliquid crystals can vary depending on the location, which leads to awider viewing angle. Note that in FIG. 30, the pixel electrode layers624 and 626 formed over the substrate 600 are indicated by dashed linesand the counter electrode layer 640 and the pixel electrode layers 624and 626 overlap with each other.

The alignment film 648 is formed over the pixel electrode layer 624 andthe pixel electrode layer 626, and the counter electrode layer 640 issimilarly provided with the alignment film 646. The liquid crystal layer650 is formed between the substrate 600 and the counter substrate 601.The pixel electrode layer 624, the liquid crystal layer 650, and thecounter electrode layer 640 overlap with each other to form a firstliquid crystal element. The pixel electrode layer 626, the liquidcrystal layer 650, and the counter electrode layer 640 overlap with eachother to form a second liquid crystal element. The pixel structure ofthe display panel illustrated in FIG. 28, FIG. 29, FIG. 30, and FIG. 31is a multi-domain structure in which the first liquid crystal elementand the second liquid crystal element are provided in one pixel.

Next, a liquid crystal display device in a horizontal electric fieldmode is described. In the horizontal electric field mode, an electricfield is applied in a horizontal direction with respect to liquidcrystal molecules in a cell, whereby liquid crystals are driven toexpress gradation. With this method, a viewing angle can be increased toabout 180°. A liquid crystal display device in a horizontal electricfield mode is described below.

In FIG. 32, the substrate 600 over which an electrode layer 607, the TFT628, and the pixel electrode layer 624 which is connected to the TFT 628are formed overlaps with the counter substrate 601, and liquid crystalsare injected between the substrate 600 and the counter substrate 601.The counter substrate 601 is provided with the coloring film 636, theplanarization film 637, and the like. Note that since a pixel electrodelayer is provided on the substrate 600 side, a pixel electrode layer isnot provided on the counter substrate 601 side. In addition, the liquidcrystal layer 650 is formed between the substrate 600 and the countersubstrate 601 with the alignment films 646 and 648 therebetween.

The electrode layer 607 and the capacitor wiring 604 which is connectedto the electrode layer 607, and the TFT 628 are formed over thesubstrate 600. The capacitor wiring 604 can be formed at the same timeas the gate wiring 602 of the TFT 628. The thin film transistordescribed in any of Embodiments 1 to 5 can be used as the TFT 628. Theelectrode layer 607 can be formed using a material which is similar tothat of the pixel electrode layer described in any of Embodiments 1 to6. The electrode layer 607 is divided almost in a pixel form. Note thatthe first gate insulating film 606 a and the second insulating film 606b are formed over the electrode layer 607 and the capacitor wiring 604.

The wirings 616 and 618 of the TFT 628 are formed over the first gateinsulating film 606 a and the second gate insulating film 606 b. Thewiring 616 is a data line through which a video signal travels, extendsin one direction in a liquid crystal display panel, is connected to asource region or a drain region of the TFT 628, and functions as one ofa source electrode and a drain electrode. The wiring 618 functions asthe other of the source electrode and the drain electrode and isconnected to the pixel electrode layer 624.

The insulating films 620 and 621 are formed over the wirings 616 and618. Over the insulating film 621, the pixel electrode layer 624 whichis connected to the wiring 618 through the contact hole 623 formed inthe insulating films 620 and 621 is formed. The pixel electrode layer624 is formed using a material which is similar to that of the pixelelectrode layer described in any of Embodiments 1 to 6.

In this manner, the TFT 628 and the pixel electrode layer 624 which isconnected to the TFT 628 are formed over the substrate 600. Note that astorage capacitor is formed with the electrode layer 607 and the pixelelectrode layer 624.

FIG. 33 is a plan view illustrating a structure of the pixel electrode.FIG. 32 illustrates a cross-sectional structure taken along section lineO-P in FIG. 33. The pixel electrode layer 624 is provided with the slits625. The slits 625 are provided for controlling alignment of liquidcrystals. In that case, an electric field is generated between theelectrode layer 607 and the pixel electrode layer 624. The thickness ofthe first gate insulating film 606 a and the second gate insulating film606 b which are formed between the electrode layer 607 and the pixelelectrode layer 624 is 50 to 200 nm, which is much smaller than thethickness of the liquid crystal layer of 2 to 10 μm. Thus, an electricfield is generated substantially in parallel (in a horizontal direction)to the substrate 600. The alignment of the liquid crystals is controlledwith this electric field. Liquid crystal molecules are horizontallyrotated with the use of the electric field in the directionsubstantially parallel to the substrate. In that case, the liquidcrystal molecules are horizontally aligned in any state; thus, contrastor the like is less influenced by the viewing angle, which leads to awider viewing angle. In addition, since both the electrode layer 607 andthe pixel electrode layer 624 are light-transmitting electrodes, theaperture ratio can be improved.

Next, a different example of the liquid crystal display device in thehorizontal electric field mode is described.

FIG. 34 and FIG. 35 illustrate a pixel structure of a liquid crystaldisplay device in an IPS mode. FIG. 35 is a plan view. FIG. 34illustrates a cross-sectional structure taken along section line V-W inFIG. 35. Description below is given with reference to both the drawings.

In FIG. 34, the substrate 600 over which the TFT 628 and the pixelelectrode layer 624 which is connected to the TFT 628 are formedoverlaps with the counter substrate 601, and liquid crystals areinjected between the substrate 600 and the counter substrate 601. Thecounter substrate 601 is provided with the coloring film 636, theplanarization film 637, and the like. Note that a counter electrode isnot provided on the counter substrate 601 side. The liquid crystal layer650 is formed between the substrate 600 and the counter substrate 601with the alignment films 646 and 648 therebetween.

A common potential line 609 and the TFT 628 are formed over thesubstrate 600. The common potential line 609 can be formed at the sametime as the gate wiring 602 of the TFT 628. The thin film transistordescribed in any of Embodiments 1 to 6 can be used as the TFT 628.

The wirings 616 and 618 of the TFT 628 are formed over the first gateinsulating film 606 a and the second gate insulating film 606 b. Thewiring 616 is a data line through which a video signal travels, extendsin one direction in a liquid crystal display panel, is connected to asource region or a drain region of the TFT 628, and functions as one ofa source electrode and a drain electrode. The wiring 618 functions asthe other of the source electrode and the drain electrode and isconnected to the pixel electrode layer 624.

The insulating films 620 and 621 are formed over the wirings 616 and618. Over the insulating films 620 and 621, the pixel electrode layer624 which is connected to the wiring 618 through the contact hole 623formed in the insulating films 620 and 621 is formed. The pixelelectrode layer 624 is formed using a material which is similar to thatof the pixel electrode layer described in any of Embodiments 1 to 6.Note that as illustrated in FIG. 35, the pixel electrode layer 624 isformed such that the pixel electrode layer 624 and a comb-like electrodewhich is formed at the same time as the common potential line 609 cangenerate a horizontal electric field. Further, a comb-like portion ofthe pixel electrode layer 624 and the comb-like electrode which isformed at the same time as the common potential line 609 are disposed soas not to overlap with each other.

The alignment of the liquid crystals is controlled by an electric fieldgenerated between a potential applied to the pixel electrode layer 624and a potential of the common potential line 609. Liquid crystalmolecules are horizontally rotated with the use of the electric field inthe direction substantially parallel to the substrate. In that case, theliquid crystal molecules are horizontally aligned in any state; thus,contrast or the like is less influenced by the viewing angle, whichleads to a wider viewing angle.

In this manner, the TFT 628 and the pixel electrode layer 624 which isconnected to the TFT 628 are formed over the substrate 600. The firstgate insulating film 606 a and the second gate insulating film 606 b areprovided between the common potential line 609 and a capacitor electrode615, whereby a storage capacitor is formed. The capacitor electrode 615and the pixel electrode layer 624 are connected to each other through acontact hole 633.

Next, a mode of a liquid crystal display device in a TN mode isdescribed.

FIG. 36 and FIG. 37 illustrate a pixel structure of a liquid crystaldisplay device in a TN mode. FIG. 37 is a plan view. FIG. 36 illustratesa cross-sectional structure taken along section line K-L in FIG. 37.Description below is given with reference to both the drawings.

The pixel electrode layer 624 is connected to the TFT 628 through thewiring 618 and the contact hole 623 formed in the insulating films 620and 621. The wiring 616 functioning as a data line is connected to theTFT 628. The TFT described in any of Embodiments 1 to 6 can be used asthe TFT 628.

The pixel electrode layer 624 is formed using the pixel electrode layer456 described in Embodiment 1. The capacitor wiring 604 can be formed atthe same time as the gate wiring 602 of the TFT 628. The first gateinsulating film 606 a and the second gate insulating film 606 b areformed over the gate wiring 602 and the capacitor wiring 604. The firstgate insulating film 606 a and the second gate insulating film 606 b areprovided between the capacitor wiring 604 and the capacitor electrode615, whereby a storage capacitor is formed. The capacitor electrode 615and the pixel electrode layer 624 are connected to each other throughthe contact hole 633.

The counter substrate 601 is provided with the coloring film 636 and thecounter electrode layer 640. The planarization film 637 is formedbetween the coloring film 636 and the counter electrode layer 640 toprevent alignment disorder of liquid crystals. The liquid crystal layer650 is formed between the pixel electrode layer 624 and the counterelectrode layer 640 with the alignment films 646 and 648 therebetween.

The pixel electrode layer 624, the liquid crystal layer 650, and thecounter electrode layer 640 overlap with each other, whereby a liquidcrystal element is formed.

The coloring film 636 may be formed on the substrate 600 side. Apolarizer can be attached to a surface of the substrate 600, which isopposite to a surface provided with the thin film transistor, and apolarizer can be attached to a surface of the counter substrate 601,which is opposite to a surface provided with the counter electrode layer640.

Through the above steps, liquid crystal display devices can bemanufactured as display devices. The liquid crystal display devices ofthis embodiment each have a high aperture ratio.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application serial no.2009-169600 filed with Japan Patent Office on Jul. 18, 2009, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device comprising: a pixelportion formed over a substrate, the pixel portion including a firsttransistor; and a driver circuit portion formed over the substrate, thedriver circuit portion including a second transistor, wherein the firsttransistor includes: a first gate electrode layer; a gate insulatinglayer over the first gate electrode layer; a first source electrodelayer and a first drain electrode layer over the gate insulating layer;a first oxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer, thefirst source electrode layer, and the first drain electrode layer, thefirst oxide semiconductor layer being in contact with the gateinsulating layer and including a channel formation region; an oxideinsulating layer over the first oxide semiconductor layer; and a pixelelectrode layer over the oxide insulating layer, wherein the secondtransistor includes: a second gate electrode layer; the gate insulatinglayer over the second gate electrode layer; a second oxide semiconductorlayer over the second gate electrode layer and the gate insulatinglayer; a second source electrode layer and a second drain electrodelayer over the second oxide semiconductor layer; and the oxideinsulating layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer, the secondsource electrode layer, and the second drain electrode layer, the oxideinsulating layer being in contact with the second oxide semiconductorlayer, wherein each of the first gate electrode layer, the first oxidesemiconductor layer, the first source electrode layer, and the firstdrain electrode layer has a light-transmitting property, wherein amaterial of the second source electrode layer and the second drainelectrode layer is different from a material of the first sourceelectrode layer and the first drain electrode layer, wherein thematerial of the second source electrode layer and the second drainelectrode layer is a metal having lower resistance than the material ofthe first source electrode layer and the first drain electrode layer,and wherein the channel formation region is interposed between the firstsource electrode layer and the first drain electrode layer.
 2. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein a material of thesecond gate electrode layer is different from a material of the firstgate electrode layer, and wherein the material of the second gateelectrode layer is a metal having lower resistance than the material ofthe first gate electrode layer.
 3. The semiconductor device according toclaim 1, wherein the second oxide semiconductor layer includes a channelformation region and a region which overlaps with the second sourceelectrode layer or the second drain electrode layer, and wherein athickness of the channel formation region is smaller than a thickness ofthe region.
 4. The semiconductor device according to claim 3, whereinthe thickness of the channel formation region of the second transistoris the same as a thickness of the first oxide semiconductor layer of thefirst transistor.
 5. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,wherein the second transistor includes a conductive layer over thesecond oxide semiconductor layer with the oxide insulating layertherebetween.
 6. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, whereinthe second source electrode layer and the second drain electrode layercomprise a metal film containing an element selected from Al, Cr, Cu,Ta, Ti, Mo, and W.
 7. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,wherein the first source electrode layer, the first drain electrodelayer, the first gate electrode layer, and the pixel electrode layercomprise a conductive metal oxide.
 8. The semiconductor device accordingto claim 1, further comprising a capacitor in the pixel portion, whereinthe capacitor includes a capacitor wiring and a capacitor electrodeoverlapping with the capacitor wiring, and wherein each of the capacitorwiring and the capacitor electrode has a light-transmitting property. 9.The semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein a material of thecapacitor wiring is the same as a material of the first gate electrodelayer, and wherein a material of the capacitor electrode is the same asthe material of the first source electrode layer and the first drainelectrode layer.
 10. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,wherein the second gate electrode layer comprises a material of thefirst gate electrode layer.
 11. The semiconductor device according toclaim 1, wherein the first oxide semiconductor layer is in directcontact with the gate insulating layer.
 12. The semiconductor deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the oxide insulating layer extends fromthe driver circuit portion to the pixel portion and is shared by thefirst transistor and the second transistor.
 13. The semiconductor deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the second source electrode layer and thesecond drain electrode layer are covered by the oxide insulating layer.14. A semiconductor device comprising: a pixel portion formed over asubstrate, the pixel portion including a first transistor; and a drivercircuit portion formed over the substrate, the driver circuit portionincluding a second transistor, wherein the first transistor includes: afirst gate electrode layer; a gate insulating layer over the first gateelectrode layer; a first source electrode layer and a first drainelectrode layer over the gate insulating layer; a first oxidesemiconductor layer over the first source electrode layer and the firstdrain electrode layer, the first oxide semiconductor layer being incontact with the gate insulating layer and including a channel formationregion; an oxide insulating layer over the first oxide semiconductorlayer; and a pixel electrode layer over the oxide insulating layer,wherein the second transistor includes: a second gate electrode layer;the gate insulating layer over the second gate electrode layer; a secondoxide semiconductor layer over the second gate electrode layer and thegate insulating layer; a second source electrode layer and a seconddrain electrode layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer; and theoxide insulating layer over the second oxide semiconductor layer, thesecond source electrode layer, and the second drain electrode layer, theoxide insulating layer being in contact with the second oxidesemiconductor layer, wherein each of the first gate electrode layer, thefirst oxide semiconductor layer, the first source electrode layer, andthe first drain electrode layer has a light-transmitting property,wherein a material of the second source electrode layer and the seconddrain electrode layer is different from a material of the first sourceelectrode layer and the first drain electrode layer, wherein thematerial of the second source electrode layer and the second drainelectrode layer is a metal having lower resistance than the material ofthe first source electrode layer and the first drain electrode layer,wherein the second gate electrode layer comprises a metal layer, andwherein the channel formation region is interposed between the firstsource electrode layer and the first drain electrode layer.
 15. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 14, further comprising a secondmetal layer over and in contact with the second gate electrode layer.16. The semiconductor device according to claim 14, further comprising ametal nitride film over and in contact with the second gate electrodelayer.
 17. The semiconductor device according to claim 14, wherein amaterial of the second gate electrode layer is different from a materialof the first gate electrode layer, and wherein the material of thesecond gate electrode layer is a metal having lower resistance than thematerial of the first gate electrode layer.
 18. The semiconductor deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the second oxide semiconductor layerincludes a channel formation region and a region which overlaps with thesecond source electrode layer or the second drain electrode layer, andwherein a thickness of the channel formation region is smaller than athickness of the region.
 19. The semiconductor device according to claim18, wherein the thickness of the channel formation region of the secondtransistor is the same as a thickness of the first oxide semiconductorlayer of the first transistor.
 20. The semiconductor device according toclaim 14, wherein the second transistor includes a conductive layer overthe second oxide semiconductor layer with the oxide insulating layertherebetween.
 21. The semiconductor device according to claim 14,wherein the second source electrode layer and the second drain electrodelayer comprise a metal film containing an element selected from Al, Cr,Cu, Ta, Ti, Mo, and W.
 22. The semiconductor device according to claim14, wherein the first source electrode layer, the first drain electrodelayer, the first gate electrode layer, and the pixel electrode layercomprise a conductive metal oxide.
 23. The semiconductor deviceaccording to claim 14, further comprising a capacitor in the pixelportion, wherein the capacitor includes a capacitor wiring and acapacitor electrode overlapping with the capacitor wiring, and whereineach of the capacitor wiring and the capacitor electrode has alight-transmitting property.
 24. The semiconductor device according toclaim 23, wherein a material of the capacitor wiring is the same as amaterial of the first gate electrode layer, and wherein a material ofthe capacitor electrode is the same as the material of the first sourceelectrode layer and the first drain electrode layer.
 25. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 14, wherein the first oxidesemiconductor layer is in direct contact with the gate insulating layer.26. The semiconductor device according to claim 14, wherein the oxideinsulating layer extends from the driver circuit portion to the pixelportion and is shared by the first transistor and the second transistor.27. The semiconductor device according to claim 14, wherein the secondsource electrode layer and the second drain electrode layer are coveredby the oxide insulating layer.
 28. A semiconductor device comprising: apixel portion formed over a substrate, the pixel portion including atransistor, wherein the transistor includes: a gate electrode layer; agate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer; a source electrodelayer and a drain electrode layer over the gate insulating layer; anoxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer, the sourceelectrode layer, and the drain electrode layer, the oxide semiconductorlayer being in contact with the gate insulating layer and including achannel formation region; an oxide insulating layer over the oxidesemiconductor layer; and a pixel electrode layer over the oxideinsulating layer, wherein each of the gate electrode layer, the oxidesemiconductor layer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrodelayer has a light-transmitting property, and wherein the channelformation region is interposed between the source electrode layer andthe drain electrode layer.
 29. The semiconductor device according toclaim 28, wherein the source electrode layer, the drain electrode layer,the gate electrode layer, and the pixel electrode layer comprise aconductive metal oxide.
 30. The semiconductor device according to claim28, further comprising a capacitor in the pixel portion, wherein thecapacitor includes a capacitor wiring and a capacitor electrodeoverlapping with the capacitor wiring, and wherein each of the capacitorwiring and the capacitor electrode has a light-transmitting property.31. The semiconductor device according to claim 30, wherein a materialof the capacitor wiring is the same as a material of the gate electrodelayer, and wherein a material of the capacitor electrode is the same asthe material of the source electrode layer and the drain electrodelayer.
 32. The semiconductor device according to claim 28, wherein thegate electrode layer, the source electrode layer, and the drainelectrode layer comprise a light-transmitting conductive material. 33.The semiconductor device according to claim 32, wherein thelight-transmitting conductive material is a metal oxide.
 34. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 32, wherein the gate electrodelayer, the source electrode layer, and the drain electrode layercomprise the same light-transmitting conductive material.
 35. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 28, wherein the oxidesemiconductor layer is in direct contact with the gate insulating layer.36. The semiconductor device according to claim 28, wherein the oxideinsulating layer is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer.